'X Factor' 2016: Louis Walsh Blasts 'Lightweight' Judges Nick Grimshaw And Rita Ora

Not satisfied with having his spot on the ‘X Factor’ panel back, Louis Walsh has launched another attack on last year’s judges, Nick Grimshaw and Rita Ora. 

The pair replaced Louis and Mel B on the ITV talent show in 2015, only for Simon Cowell to invite Louis to return for this year’s series, alongside Nicole Scherzinger and Sharon Osbourne.

Louis has now branded Nick and Rita inexperienced “lightweights” who didn’t have the “right credentials” to judge the talent. 

Speaking to Best magazine, he claimed he said he would only return to ‘The X Factor’ if there were fellow judges “who knew what they were talking about”.

“Sharon and I are old, but that means we’re far more experienced, unlike the young whippersnappers on last year’s panel who didn’t know a thing about talent,” he said.

Rita was said to be in the frame for a return this year, but Louis claimed it was him and Sharon who “pushed” for Simon to take Nicole back instead.

“We didn’t want Rita Ora,” he said. “It turned into a fashion show. The panel didn’t have the right credentials. They were lightweight.”

Louis’ comments come following Simon’s admission that he knew last year’s series would not be a success, before it had even aired. 

“When we announced [this year’s] line-up, it was 95% positive. No one was saying it was a mistake and that was what we were getting last year,” he told The Mirror.

“I mean the minute we announced it, it was like fuck, this doesn’t feel great, let’s see how it goes. But it was tough.”

The 12th run of the talent show suffered some of its lowest ever ratings, and changes to this year’s series have seen Caroline Flack and Olly Murs leave their roles as co-host, with former presenter Dermot O’Leary returning.

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