For the first time in over a decade, Louis Walsh is not on the X Factor panel - and ratings have PLUMMETED. These two facts must be inextricably linked, no? Since he left, he's reportedly been hounded by ITV to appear on this year's I'm a Celebrity - Get Me Out Of Heeeerrrrreeee, but it seems the lure of money isn't enough to make Louis to gnaw on kangaroo's nether on live TV. More on that in a moment. 

Speaking on this evening's edition of Xpose, presenter Peter O’Riordan suggested that Walsh may be "recycled" for X Factor, to which he was quick to retort: "Not recycled, you mean booked back on the show! Well I never really left it you see, mentally (he's still sweeping the floors, physically), let’s see what happens. I don’t know, I don’t know, there’s probably a chance. I'm not confirmed at the moment. I won't be in a Judge's House. If I'm back, I’ll be back at the live shows but I'm not booked as we speak."

As for him being hot property for 'I'm a Celebrity', he confirmed he'd been approached, but he's not interested: "I did meet the 'I’m A Celebrity' people if you want to know the truth. I did meet them but I’m not going to do it this year. X Factor is a jungle and there's lots of snakes on it so I'd probably go for 'X Factor' because I know all the snakes. I know, I know all the pitfalls."

Good to see being portrayed as a droid with 5 repeated catchphrases in this year's trailer hasn't put him off reappearing. Oh, maybe they'll get Sharon back too and she can throw a glass of water over his head. Just like the good old times...