The X Factor: Simon Cowell tweet seems to confirm Louis Walsh exit

Walsh is believed to be leaving the talent contest after 11 years as a judge

Louis Walsh's X Factor judging days appeared to be over (Getty Images)

Simon Cowell appears to have confirmed that Louis Walsh will be leaving The X Factor after 11 years on the judging panel.

“Louis is one of the good guys. We will always be friends. The door remains open and who knows what’s next…” Cowell tweeted early this morning, before being met with a flood of suggestions from fans as to whom his replacement should be.

One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, BBC Radio 1 host Nick Grimshaw, singers Demi Lovato and James Blunt, reality TV star Kris Jenner and “a new Spice Girl” were among the ideas touted, with Olly Murs and Caroline Flack already confirmed to take over from former presenter Dermot O’Leary.

However, an spokesperson for The X Factor has said that “no formal decisions have been made regarding the full judging line-up” for this year’s run of the talent search.

Last year's judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Mel B and Louis Walsh (PA)

Cowell’s tweet could suggest that Walsh has quit, rather than being axed, after he said last month that he was “done with The X Factor” and wanted to go back to his “day job” of being a manager.

Reaction to Cowell’s message has been mixed, with some fans bemoaning the loss of 62-year-old Walsh and others begging for the door to be locked behind him.

Last year’s judging panel was made up of Walsh, Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Mel B. Cowell will remain as head judge for the next series with further announcements yet to be made.