Louis Walsh will be taking part in a new ITV series called Drive instead of doing The X Factor this year. So that's ruled him out.

Drive's already been filmed - there's no reason this would stop him from appearing on The X Factor.

Simons doing agt but that's not stopping him doing bgt and x factor

Mel b was doing something else too from what I remember

Grimshaw continued with his radio show

Sharon was always flying back and forth doing her daytime show back in 2013

Please, Louis will be back. They've already done a u-turn on Dermot, Louis is as much of a guarantee as possible.

If Simon could persuade Sharon and Louis to come back that would be brilliant.
I'd keep Cheryl in the panel as well

He maybe doesn't want to be there if Cheryl is there . He probably wants Nicole or Tulisa to return in Cheryls place before he'll come back.

Louis would ne back like a shot if Simon asked him, no question.

It would more than likely be cheryl calling the shots. Simon would always pick Cheryl over Louis. God only knows why

Even after two years of pure mediocre-ness, I don't think his baffling Cheryl obsession will change any time soon. Does she know something he doesn't want exposed? Have they...dated????

LOL

It does make you wonder whether she's got dirt on Simon.

I would love to see X Factor 2016 be a return to its peak in 2008. Have a good number of really good singers in the live shows and treat them all like winners and then let the public decide.

We might have a final 2 that go on to have long term success. Because let's face it, nobody will care about R&B in a year from now.

Louis seems to know what the public wants he prefers the old format too and hates the 6 chair challenge and hes right about Cheryl she should focus on music that she needs the show more than it needs her.
I like Cheryl but I know many people don't

As annoying as Louis can be, when he is given a decent category he is actually quite a good judge. He did well with JLS, he got Union J very close to the final, he won with Shayne Ward and there's a few others he's done well with too. The problem is though that he's never given a strong category. They just lump him with the dregs.

He can't manage girl groups - ask Girls Aloud.
He can't manage female artists full stop.
He made Only The Young into a cheese fest.
There's a reason why he isn't given a strong category.

Louis is far too dated for a music show in 2016. His proudest moments were Boyzone and Westlife - they literally have no relevance to the music scene now. Louis Walsh is a joke that stopped being funny 7 years ago. Bringing back Dermot makes sense, bringing back Louis doesn't.

His latest boyband Hometown are doing great in Ireland and starting to make an impact on the UK.

if he doesn't come back and I don't think he will I think it will be Robbie that replaces Grimmy

I reed something that he is on his way back

Louis will be back the only way he won't be is if Simon decides to do Ireland Got Talent & makes him Head Judge & the auditions are on at the same time as the X Factor