'The X Factor' 2016: Louis Walsh To Get Help From Former Winner At Judges' Houses

Anchoice.

An unlikely ‘X Factor’ star has been tipped to be returning to the show, to help Louis Walsh at this year’s ‘judges’ houses’.

And no, before you ask, it’s not Wagner.

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Louis Walsh
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After being noticeably absent from the panel during last year’s series, Louis has reclaimed his spot at the judges’ table this year (alongside fellow returning stars Sharon Osbourne and Nicole Scherzinger), and clearly means business when it comes to the competition.

According to Radio Times, he’s roped in series two winner Shayne Ward to help him select the contestants he’ll be mentoring during this year’s live shows.

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Shayne Ward
Mike Marsland via Getty Images

While Shayne might seem like an unusual choice, let’s not forget that his victory in the second series marks the first - and, so far, only - time that Louis has mentored a winning act through the competition.

Shayne also remains the only ‘X Factor’ winner in history to release an original song as his winner’s single, topping the chart with ‘That’s My Goal’ in 2005.

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The moment Shayne Ward discovered he had won 'The X Factor'
ITV/Ken McKay/Rex/Shutterstock

Following that, he released a string of hits, including ‘No Promises’, ‘U Hang Up’ and the Max Martin-produced ‘If That’s OK With You’, before ultimately being dropped by Simon Cowell’s Syco record label.

He’s since launched a career in acting, and can currently be seen as Aidan Connor in ‘Coronation Street’.

Radio Times have also claimed that Shayne will be one of several stars helping Louis at ‘judges’ houses’, while it has been previously suggested that Simon will also be getting some help from an old face (and we have a feeling Sinitta is not going to be happy about it).

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'X Factor': Where Are They Now?
Stacey Solomon (Series 6, 2009)(01 of24)
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Queen of the Jungle, Iceland Mum and all-round National Treasure, Stacey Solomon has become a celebrity in her own right.

After winning 'I'm A Celebrity', she took a few years out of the limelight, but became a regular 'Loose Women' presenter in 2016, relaunching herself as a TV personality.
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Rylan Clark-Neal (Series 9, 2012)(02 of24)
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Hated by Gary Barlow, loved by the public, Rylan went on to win 'Celebrity Big Brother' and has presented spin-off show 'Bit On The Side' since 2013.

His presenting career continues to go from strength to strength, fronting his own Channel 5 talk show as well as the ITV gameshow 'Babooshka'.
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Diana Vickers (Series 5, 2008)(03 of24)
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The softly-spoken Vickers, who got to the semi-finals in 2008, has expanded away from music, starring in West End shows, releasing a fashion line and apparently working on a Clint Eastwood film. (credit:PA)
Little Mix (Series 8, 2011)(04 of24)
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From four solo artists, to two separate girl groups, to Rhythmix, to Little Mix, the band didn't have the simplest start on 'The X Factor'.

However, as the first group to win the competition, Little Mix have achieved huge success, releasing four hit albums and nabbing the record for highest debut US chart position for a British girl group's debut.
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Steve Brookstein (Series 1, 2004)(05 of24)
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The original 'X Factor' winner is far from the show's biggest fan, after being dropped by Simon Cowell's record label at a time in the TV talent show narrative when this was far less commonplace.

In 2014, he released a book about his experiences during and after the show, titled 'Getting Over The X'.
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Eoghan Quigg (Series 5, 2008)(06 of24)
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Yes, him! Creator of what was reviewed as "the worst album in the history of recorded sound" by the Guardian's Peter Robinson, which tells you all you need to know about Quigg's career.

Last seen with his top off, flexing his new muscles in celeb mags everywhere.
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Ella Henderson (Series 9, 2012)(07 of24)
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Despite being pipped to the top spot by James Arthur in 2012, Ella validated her title of 'the most talented performer in the show's history' (courtesy of Dermot O'Leary) when her debut single, 'Ghost', went straight to number one in June 2014. (credit:PA)
Alexandra Burke (Series 5, 2008)(08 of24)
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Alexandra's pop career got off to a flying start (three number one singles in two years is good going by anyone's standards, let alone a talent show winner), but her sophomore album failed to live up to the standard set by her debut.

After being dropped by Simon's labels, she carved a new career as a West End star, and in 2017, participated in the 15th series of 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
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Mason Noise (Series 12, 2015)(09 of24)
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Mason had a controversial time of it on 'The X Factor', largely thanks to his infamous storm-off during Bootcamp.

Despite this, Nick Grimshaw chose to bring him back for Judges' Houses, and since then he's kept pursuing music, releasing debut single 'Loco' in 2017.
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JLS (Series 5, 2008)(10 of24)
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JLS had a long career after coming second to Alexandra Burke in the 2008 series, but ultimately decided to call it quits in 2014. During their time as a band, JLS released five Number 1 singles, five albums, perfumes and a 3D movie.

Oh and a condom range.
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Shayne Ward (Series 2, 2005)(11 of24)
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Shayne enjoyed a fairly successful stint as a popstar after taking part in 'The X Factor', but has more recently turned his attention to acting, playing Aidan Connor in 'Coronation Street'.

In 2017, he won a National Television Award for his soap role, having not exactly been shy about wanting to join the 'Corrie' cast in the years leading up to it.
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Christopher Maloney (Series 9, 2012)(12 of24)
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Chris didn't have the easiest of times leaving 'The X Factor', and reportedly wasn't invited back for the 2013 final due to a row with fellow contestant Carolynne Poole, during which he called her a "c***".

He's since made headlines thanks to his expensive plastic surgery, fall-outs with former close friend Danniella Westbrook and a brief stint in the 'Celebrity Big Brother' house.
(credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
Andy Abraham (Series 2, 2005)(13 of24)
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Offered forth as our representative for Great British music in 2008 in the Eurovision Song Contest, the former bin man came, er, last. At least he got points. He's also released four albums, so well done him. (credit:WikiMedia:)
Ray Quinn (Series 3, 2006)(14 of24)
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Ray somehow came second behind Leona Lewis, and has taken part in a string of musicals and, of course, pantomimes since appearing on the show in 2006 and won the All-Star series of 'Dancing On Ice' in 2014.

More recently, he's taken the Eoghan Quigg route of getting really buff and talking about it on any daytime show that will have him.
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Katie Waissel(15 of24)
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Katie, Katie, Katie. The girl who possibly set the record for most personal reinventions in the course of three months now lives in LA, where she works in a tattoo agency, while still trying to make it as a singer.

In 2016, she returned to the UK for a series of 'Celebrity Big Brother', during which an anti-Semitic comment made by Christopher Biggins had him thrown out of the house.
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Honey G(16 of24)
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In a blink-and-you'll-miss-it move, the novelty rapper was signed up to Simon Cowell's label immediately after leaving the show, but was promptly dropped when 'The Honey G Show' missed the UK top 100 completely.

In 2017, she came out as gay in an interview with The Sun and released the imaginatively-named follow-up track, 'Hit You With The Honey G'.
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Rhydian Roberts(17 of24)
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This is the least scary picture of Rhydian we could find and he stills looks like he's piercing someone's soul with his eyes.

Anyhow, Rhydian was probably the most successful gimmick act in X Factor history, and has gone on to appear in musicals, while recording four successful albums.
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Frankie Cocozza(18 of24)
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Despite billing himself as one of X Factor's most rock 'n' roll entrants, Frankie is known post-show for his reality TV appearances, which include 'Celebrity Big Brother' and 'Celebs Go Dating'. (credit:Mark Robert Milan via Getty Images)
Cher Lloyd(19 of24)
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Famed for on The X Factor for her strut, snarl and, erm, swag, Cher's debut single, 'Swagger Jagger', reached number 1 in the charts, despite receiving mostly negative reviews.

She's also achieved success in the US, collaborating with Busta Rymes, T.I. and Demi Lovato, and got married along the way.
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Aiden Grimshaw(20 of24)
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Best known for looking intense and moody, Aiden Grimshaw released his debut album, 'Misty Eye' in 2012, which was named 'unexpectedly brilliant' in its reviews. A self-titled EP followed in 2013, with Aiden still working as a singer and songwriter today. (credit:PA)
James Arthur(21 of24)
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His post-'X Factor' career began with a chart-topping single and successful album, but things started to go downhill for James in 2013.

After writing lyrics which referenced homophobia and terrorism, Twitter spats with comedian Frankie Boyle and a number of Twitter rants, James was (unsurprisingly) dropped from Simon Cowell's label in June 2014, only to make one of the u-turns of the century two years later and wind up getting re-signed.
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Leon Jackson(22 of24)
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Less said, the better. (credit:PA)
Chico(23 of24)
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After 'It's Chico Time' and 'It's England Time' (for the 2010 World Cup), surely Chico was destined for worldwide fame and fortune? Where can we find him if we need some more hits? Hosting webcam gaming sessions for Bingocams UK, apparently... (credit:PA)
One Direction(24 of24)
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Never heard of 'em. (credit:PA)

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