In a blistering outburst this week, veteran music manager Louis Walsh has labelled his former colleague Simon Cowell a 'has-been' and declared that the once-dominant television show Britain's Got Talent is effectively finished. The 73-year-old Irish personality, who served as a judge on The X Factor from its 2004 inception until its final series in 2019 alongside Cowell and Sharon Osbourne, delivered his cutting assessment in an exclusive interview with The Sun.
A Friendship Turned Sour
Walsh revealed that he has not spoken to Cowell, 66, in several years, describing the music mogul as no longer being in his 'prime'. Speaking ahead of Friday night's Britain's Got Talent series premiere on ITV, Walsh, who appeared as a guest panellist on the show in 2010, dismissed the programme's current significance. 'BGT, who cares?! It’s not what it was,' he stated bluntly. 'Back in the old days, it was pulling in 12 million viewers, and the whole country cared who won. Now it doesn’t feel like that—who even won last year?'
Allegations of Control and Isolation
During the same interview, Walsh made further provocative claims about Cowell's personal life. He suggested that Cowell's fiancée, Lauren Silverman, 48, controls his phone and diary, contributing to their communication breakdown. Walsh described Cowell as 'incredible in his prime' but asserted that he has lost his instinct and is 'surrounded by people who won't tell him the truth'. According to The Sun, Walsh allegedly escalated his criticism in private text messages, reportedly stating that Cowell is 'done now' and 'surrounded by fakes'.
Targeting Cowell's New Ventures
Walsh, who previously managed successful boy bands including Boyzone and Westlife, also took aim at Cowell's latest project—the newly formed boyband December 10, created through his Netflix series Simon Cowell: The Next Act. Walsh joked that the group should have been named 'April 1st' instead, though he added that he genuinely hopes things work out 'for the boys' sake'.
History of Public Criticism
This is not the first instance of Walsh publicly criticising his former co-star. In 2024, Walsh and Sharon Osbourne launched a shock tirade against Cowell while appearing on Celebrity Big Brother. Osbourne insisted she would never work for him again, 'not for all the money in the world'. Walsh nodded in agreement during that broadcast, revealing he hadn't spoken to Cowell since their X Factor days, stating: 'I haven't talked to him at all, nothing. Zero.'
Just before entering the Celebrity Big Brother house, Walsh threw shade at Cowell's appearance, commenting: '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 added, '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.'
Despite the harsh words, Cowell has previously taken Walsh's remarks in stride. When asked about Walsh and Osbourne's involvement on Celebrity Big Brother, he simply responded: 'I think they could both win.' Representatives for both Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell have been contacted by Daily Mail for comment regarding the latest allegations.
