Louis Walsh: 'New X Factor judges have more credibility'

Louis Walsh has taken a swipe at former UK X Factor judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole by claiming that this year’s panel is ‘more credible’.

At the end of last season, Simon and Cheryl left to work on the US show, although Cheryl was later dropped, and Dannii quit over rows about scheduling. Take That star Gary Barlow, Destiny’s Child Kelly Rowland and N-Dubz singer Tulisa were drafted in as replacements and remaining judge Louis said it has worked out better than he ever could have expected.

“This year, we’ve got people who deserve to be there,” he told Heat magazine. "They are more credible than our previous judges and they’re not afraid to say it how it is.

“They’re not just trying to be liked by the people. They can have a great disagreement on screen, but they don’t take it off camera.”

And he had even more praise for head judge Gary Barlow.

“He has been there and done it and has real credibility. He’s written some brilliant songs: Patience, Rule The World, Back For Good – they’re all UK pop classics. I find him inspirational. I would say he’s one of the people I look up to most in the business.”

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