Rylan Clark-Neal owes Louis Walsh a very big drink, as it turns out he has got the returning ‘X Factor’ judge to thank for his new job on ‘The Xtra Factor’.
The former contestant announced he would be taking the reins of the ITV2 spin-off show alongside Matt Edmonson last month, after being linked to the role numerous times in the past.
Simon Cowell has now revealed that Louis had been campaigning for him to take over from Rochelle Humes and Melvin Odoom, before even returning to the show himself.
“I missed the year [Rylan] was on the show so I don’t know him that well. I’ve met him but everyone wanted him on the show, I mean everyone,” Simon explained.
“Literally, Louis is obsessed with him. He talked to me more about Rylan coming on the show than he did about himself returning. So I don’t know what he’s done to Louis but he wanted him, he got him, it’s going to be fun.”
Louis added: “I’ve been trying to get him the gig since day one, did you know that?
“I think he’s so entertaining, funny and he’s intelligent, and he wears an awful lot of make-up - what’s not to like!”
Rylan’s return to the ‘X Factor’ family will also see him reunited Nicole Scherzinger, who he was mentioned by when he appeared on the show in 2012.
And the Pussycat Doll joked she is owed some of Rylan’s new-found fortune, given that she was responsible for his success, which has seen him go on to front ‘Big Brother’s Bit On The Side’, ‘This Morning’ and his own Channel 5 chat show.
“I can’t believe he’s back. He told me and I was like, ‘Well what cut am I getting?!’. I’m joking! I’m so proud of him,” she said.
“He looks amazing, I see his face all over the TV and that just goes to show, giving credit to the show, that it’s not just about having the best singing voice but having some kind of star quality. I saw it in him from the start.”
‘The X Factor’ returns to ITV on Saturday (27 August) at 8pm, with ‘Xtra Factor Live’ airing on ITV2 directly after.
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