Walsh quits X Factor

Louis Walsh quit the X Factor yesterday after a longrunning dispute with his fellow judges.

The Irish music mogul walked out of the popular TV talent contest and vowed not to return.

The mutiny came after he had received a barrage of abuse from his co-judges Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne.

In two interviews this week, Cowell has branded the 53 year old 'an idiot' and accused him of being 'bland'. The programme's producers claim he is also still seething after Mrs Osbourne threw three glasses of water over him on last Saturday's show.

Walsh has returned to Dublin and insists his time at the programme - currently in a ratings war with the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing - is over.

'I've been totally humiliated and undermined by both of them,' said Walsh, who is mentoring contestant Shayne Ward.

'This has caused me nothing but stress. The final straw was Sharon with the water and being booed by the audience - and then Simon Cowell saying I was an idiot and stupid.

'I've had enough. I'm not putting up with it any more.'

The row between the judges on the second series of the show is based on Walsh's support for The Conway Sisters, an Irish girl band he had met on more than one occasion before filming for the X Factor began.

Two weeks ago he controversially sent home the talented 30-year old Maria Lawson by casting his vote in favour of the four-piece from Sligo.

The decision prompted accusations from Mrs Osbourne that an 'Irish Mafia' had been formed between Walsh and The Conway Sisters.

The sisters also survived last Saturday's show, along with Brenda Edwards, Andy Abraham, Shayne Ward, Chico Slimani and Journey South.

Last night Cowell and Mrs Osbourne were both pleading with their co-judge to change his mind.

'I've been called all sorts of things but taken in it the spirit it was meant,' Cowell told the Sun. 'I've know Louis for years. I know what a huge success he's been. If I offended him I apologise. We want him back.'

Mrs Osbourne, wife of Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy, added: 'I am shocked and saddened. I like and respect Louis and hope he changes his decision.'

Last week the X Factor received an audience of 10.2million, compared to Strictly Come Dancing's 9.4million viewers.