Louis Walsh to quit X Factor after ten years

X Factor judge Louis Walsh has revealed he will leave the show after this year’s series.

The 61-year-old has been on the panel of the hit ITV talent show since its launch in 2004.

He said he is looking forward to returning to his day job as a full-time music manager.

He told TV Times magazine: “I’m happy this is going to be my last year. I’ve been judging X Factor for 10 years so I’ve done it all.”

He added: “It was never in my plan to be on TV but Simon [Cowell] put me there. I’m very grateful to him but I need my life back!”

In his ten year stint as a judge, Walsh had one winning act with Shayne Ward from series two.

The former Westlife and Boyzone manager revealed he hopes to start a new boy band and will focus on managing Shane Filan from Westlife.

Simon Cowell briefly replaced Walsh with Brian Friedman on the judging panel in 2007, before returning him after a few days.

A spokesperson for X Factor said: “We’re delighted Louis is back for a record breaking 10th series this year.

“It’s far too early to say what the judging panel for 2014 may or may not look like.”

Walsh will be joined this year by judges Gary Barlow, Sharon Osbourne and Nicole Scherzinger.

Osbourne, who quit the show in 2008, says she has no plans to extend her X Factor comeback for more than one series.