TV legend signs for Celebrity Big Brother – as bosses hope he spills A-list secrets from decades in showbiz
HE spent more than a decade judging people on TV, as one of the longest-serving X Factor judges.
Now Louis Walsh will get a taste of his own medicine, as I can reveal he has gamely signed up to be a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother.
Louis, a panellist on ITV’s The X Factor from 2004 till 2014 then 2016 to 2017, is said to have landed himself a bumper six-figure deal to enter the CBB house when the show is rebooted on ITV1 next month.
A close associate of Irishman Louis, who has also managed a series of top music acts down the years, said: “He is one of the most intriguing signings for Celebrity Big Brother because he has almost half a century of experience in showbusiness to recall when he enters the house.
“Viewers will be most interested in his memories of his time on The X Factor and working with huge music acts including Westlife and Boyzone.
“But there may be a few celebrities outside the house who are feeling nervous about what he might say, because Louis is notoriously outspoken.”
Asked whether Louis will do CBB, an ITV spokesman would only say: “All names are purely speculation.”
Jedward ‘pointers’
But The Sun reported last month that he was in advanced talks with CBB bosses, and since then they’ve been hammering out a deal with him.
Producers are hoping to keep the full line-up a secret so some of the big names can be revealed on the live launch show which will air on March 4.
But three names have already been leaked before battle commences — they are Kate Middleton’s uncle Gary Goldsmith, former boxing champ Amir Khan’s wife Faryal Makhdoom and Love Islander Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu.
If Louis does need some pointers on how to win over viewers, perhaps he can get some from his old act Jedward, who he mentored when the X Factor comedy duo launched their, ahem, singing career.
On second thoughts, he might be better advised to look elsewhere for pearls of wisdom.