‘He’s done now, he’s surrounded by fakes’: Louis Walsh brands Simon Cowell a ‘has-been’ and claims Britain’s Got Talent is finished in scathing rant

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Louis Walsh recently made harsh comments, calling Simon Cowell irrelevant and predicting the end of Britain’s Got Talent.

Louis Walsh, a 73-year-old Irish music manager, was a judge on the talent show The X Factor for its entire run, from 2004 to 2019. He judged alongside Simon Cowell, 66, and Sharon Osbourne, 73.

Louis recently shared that he and Simon haven’t talked for several years. He believes the talent show Simon hosts on ITV isn’t as good as it used to be and suggests Simon is past his best.

Before the first episode of Britain’s Got Talent airs on ITV Friday night, Louis – a guest judge on the show back in 2010 – told The Sun he doesn’t think the show is as good as it used to be, saying, ‘Who even cares about BGT anymore?’

‘Back in the old days, it was pulling in 12 million, and the whole country cared who won.

He added: ‘Now it doesn’t feel like that, who even won last year?’

Louis also stated in the interview that Simon Cowell’s fiancée, Lauren Silverman, age 48, manages his schedule and phone, and that he hasn’t been in contact with Simon for several years.

He praised Simon, calling him exceptional during his best years, but believes he’s lost some of his natural ability and is now advised by people who aren’t being honest with him.

The Sun reports that Louis supposedly sent texts claiming Simon’s career is over and that he’s surrounded by insincere people.

Louis Walsh, known for managing successful groups like Boyzone and Westlife, also criticized Simon Cowell’s new boy band, December 10, which was created on Cowell’s Netflix show, Simon Cowell: The Next Act.

He playfully suggested the team should have been named ‘April 1st,’ but then sincerely expressed his hope that everything goes well for the players.

Daily Mail has contacted Louis and Simon’s representatives for comment.  

However, this is not the first time Louis has publicly criticised his former co-star. 

During their time on Celebrity Big Brother in 2024, Louis and Sharon Osbourne publicly criticized Simon, with Sharon declaring she would never work with him again, regardless of the financial compensation.

I was so shocked to hear that the head judge from X Factor actually blocked one of my favorite stars from appearing on the US version of The Masked Singer! Apparently, it all came down to some tricky contract stuff related to her time on X Factor. It’s a real shame, because I think she would have been amazing on that show.

Louis confirmed he hadn’t spoken to Simon since their time on The X Factor, stating, ‘We haven’t exchanged a single word. Absolutely nothing.’

Just before going into the Celebrity Big Brother house, Louis criticized Simon’s fashion choices and the show’s new cast members.

He expressed deep affection for this person, saying he admired him greatly despite being aware of his flaws. He noted that the man’s appearance had changed considerably over time, mentioning his clothing, hairstyle, and even his facial features.

I’ve always enjoyed his company and I owe him a great deal – I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. However, I’ll share stories about him whenever I get the chance, as long as it doesn’t cause any trouble.

‘But we’re going to be on mic, so we can’t talk that much about everything we know!’

Simon didn’t seem bothered by the comments, and when asked about Sharon and Louis being on the show, he just stated that he believed either of them could win.

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2026-02-22 03:52