LOOSE-lipped Louis Walsh says his friends have warned him to be discreet on Celebrity Big Brother.
But the pop music maestro thinks he might struggle when it comes to talking about his old friend and former X Factor boss Simon Cowell.
Louis, 71, said: “I’ve always had a fantastic time with him. I wouldn’t be here but for him.
“But I’ll gossip as much as I can about him, as often as I can . . . as safely as I can.
“But we’re going to be on mic, so we can’t talk that much about everything we know!”
Simon did not get in touch with Louis before he went on the show, so he did not get the chance to suggest he watch his words.
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Asked if they had spoken about it, Louis said: “No, it’s all about him. Simon lives in this bubble and it’s all about him. It’s fine. I accept that. That’s just the way he is.
“We spoke a few months ago, I just rang him to have a chat and he was the same as ever.
“I love him. I think the world of him, I really do. I know his faults. I know he’s not perfect. He wears stupid clothes, stupid haircut, new faces . . . his face has changed so much.”
“He brings energy to a room, brings something, I don’t know what it is. It’s not like he’s Einstein or anything. But he’s good. He’s good with music and stuff.”
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Louis was on The X Factor from its launch 20 years ago and, aside from one season, stayed to the penultimate series in 2017.
But it is not just those involved with the TV talent contest who need to worry about him spilling secrets on the Celebrity Big Brother reboot for ITV1.
His long career in the pop industry has seen him work of the likes of with Boyzone, Westlife and One Direction. Louis said: “Everybody’s telling me to be careful. I am a bit of a loose cannon.
“I don’t have a great connection between my brain and my mouth. I like to tell it like it is, so I’ll have to do Celebrity Big Brother very carefully.
“I think of the Westlife boys, for example. They’re in Canada and South America and North America right through this.
“I’m sure they will look in and think, ‘Oh, what the f*** is he up to?’.
After years away from the limelight, Louis was conscious that he has not been on a TV adventure in some time — and that he is now in his eighth decade.
I love him. I think the world of him, I really do. I know his faults
Louis Walsh
He said: “We’re in the final chapter, so let’s have fun. I don’t want to be in my final chapter, I want to live. I want to enjoy myself.
“It makes sense that you get to this age and think, ‘Why not?’. I just want to enjoy myself.
“I didn’t think at this stage in my life I’d be offered this show. They talked me into doing it and I’m glad I’m doing it.”
Part of the lure was doing the series with his old pal Sharon.
He recalls: “I said to the producers, ‘I wouldn’t mind doing this show if there was somebody in the house that I knew I was friendly with’.
“They said, ‘Who?’. And I said, ‘Sharon would be amazing’, never thinking in a million years they would talk to her or get her.
“She called me and said, “I’m going to do it, we’re going to have fun’. And I thought, ‘Yeah, that’s a reason to do it’.”
His only sadness is that Sharon will not be by his side the whole time as she is not a full housemate.
He said: “I’d love her to stay. Is there any way I can tempt her, maybe lock her up?
“I’m glad she’s here for how long she is and then we’ll see. I don’t know how I’ll cope without her. At least I’ll know everybody by then.”
“I don’t know why, but we’re good together. We don’t try to be funny, we just kind of laugh at people.”
But it might be his fellow contestants having the last laugh at him because he has not got a clue when it comes to the domestic chores that the housemates have to perform.
He said: “I’m useless. I can make a cup of tea, just about. I put tea in the microwave, is that weird?
“If it’s gone cold, I’ll put it back in the microwave, is that not normal? I’m worse than useless so I tend to get ready meals or I go to restaurants.
“You won’t see me fighting for air time in the kitchen.”
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Rod McPhee
