Is LOUIS WALSH coming back to The X Factor to save it from plummeting ratings?

Louis Walsh has been a busy man of late. Not busy in the sense that you or I might understand it – it's not like he's got to get out of bed at a particular time, and he does tend to spend a lot of the day just staring out of the window, but still: busy. Sort of.

But not too busy that he can't pick up the phone to his old pal Simon Cowell to try and hash out a new* X Factor* deal – even though he promised he would definitely be leaving the show for good,* the end.*

The Sun reports today that Si had an hour-long chat with Louis about the ex-judge returning to the show for a special appearance in a bid to boost flagging ratings – ratings that got worse when Strictly Come Dancing started again on the BBC last weekend.

"Simon has called Louis to chat through what hasn't worked with the show so far this year," an insider revealed to the paper.

"They remain close friends and Simon respects Louis' opinion — he was a key factor behind the success of The X Factor."

But replacement judge Nick Grimshaw doesn't have to be worried about losing his seat, as Simon's "remaining loyal" to Grimmy.

There's also speculation that another Louis could be joining the line-up – soon-to-be-a-daddy Louis Tomlinson is rumoured to be helping out at the Judges' Houses stage.

Yep. If you look closely on Saturday night, you'll see the faint red of a surging ratings graph reflected in Simon's eyes.

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