Louis Walsh hints at X-Factor exit

Walsh, 60, returns to the ninth series of the ITV1 show on Saturday (Getty Images)

X Factor judge Louis Walsh has suggested that he will bow out of the show after 10 years because he does not want to turn into Sir Bruce Forsyth.

Walsh, 60, returns to the ninth series of the ITV1 show on Saturday with fellow judges Tulisa Contostavlos, Gary Barlow and Nicole Scherzinger and admitted that the UK X Factor had suffered without Simon Cowell.

He told the Radio Times: "This is my ninth year and every year I get nervous that Simon will bring someone new in, but I know the show and what works.

"My ambition is to get to 10 years on the show - after that we'll see. I don't want to be like Brucie on Strictly. I will know when it's time to give it up."

Walsh has been in a war of words with TV rival Sir Bruce, saying the 84-year-old "shouldn't even be alive at his age", while the Strictly Come Dancing presenter branded him "a jumped-up karaoke judge".

The Irish judge admitted of the X Factor: "The show has suffered without Simon - it's like the Rolling Stones without Mick Jagger.

"But we are doing the best we can, although I miss him being there a lot. We are like Steptoe and Son. He may have a go at me quite a lot, but that is just what he is like. He is the best."

Walsh also hit out at BBC1 show The Voice and Sir Tom Jones, who was one of its coaches.

"I got bored after the chairs stopped turning on that show. Because it's not just about the voice - it's about likeability and personality, passion," Walsh said.

"It was no fun at all - I don't know what (Sir) Tom Jones was doing on that show because he was lost.

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"Our judging panel is going to be great this year. Last year Tulisa and Gary were thrown in at the deep end and we struggled a bit but this year they're back and they're stronger and I can't wait to find this year's star."

Walsh said of Contostavlos, who won last year with Little Mix: "She is a bit rough round the edges and when they announced she was on the panel I was expecting a chav in a tracksuit - which is what we got - but she's a lot of fun. She thinks she's a bigger star than she actually is though."