Louis Walsh is on his way back to The X Factor after a dramatic u-turn by series boss Simon Cowell. The Irishman was booted off the judging panel three months ago and went on to accuse his former friend of 'knifing him in the back' over his axing. But Simon has had a change of heart and will now offer Louis £1million to rejoin the show. The pair were reunited last month during the filming of a This Is Your Life special for Simon on ITV1, and Mr Nasty was apparently impressed that Louis appeared to have buried the hatchet. 'Simon was touched that Louis appeared and thought he might have been hasty in dumping him,' an ITV source told the Mirror. 'He has had to eat a rather large portion of humble pie but was prepared to do it to get Louis back.' Louis was so surprised at the recall that he initally thought the offer was a joke: 'I got called today and didn't know if it was a wind-up at first!' he says. 'But I'm absolutely delighted to be back. Me, Simon and Sharon have a chemistry that no-one else has. 'Working on The X Factor has been such a big part of my life over the last three years and I was genuinely really missing it. I cannot wait to start work again on Monday and be back with Simon and Sharon, and I’m really looking forward to working with Dannii Minogue.’ Simon went on to say: 'If I'm honest, I have missed Louis a bit and I think the show has missed him, too. He is ecstatic about being back on the show. I'm sure he'll be a bit smug when he gets there but we are still looking for talent. He has a job to do.' But Louis' good fortune is bad news for Grease Is the Word judge Brian Friedman, who had been earmarked to replace him on the judges panel. He will now become the show's 'creative guru' instead.
