Louis Walsh has confirmed he has spoken to Simon Cowell about returning to The X Factor.

The 63-year-old music manager announced earlier this year that he was stepping down as a judge on the show after 11 years, and he has been replaced on the panel by Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw.

But reports have emerged that Louis is in talks to return for the live shows to help boost flagging ratings.

Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh
Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh are old friends (Jon Furniss/Invision)

Louis told ITV’s Loose Women: “Simon said the door was open to me months ago. I talked to him last night. There is a possibility I might end up on the show… But I don’t know for definite.

He added: “I’d like to. I’m available.

“There is a possibility. It’s up to Simon and I get on with him really well. I have worked with him for 12 years… We talk all the time. I think there is a chance.”

Louis has admitted in the past that he and judge Cheryl Fernandez-Versini do not get on.

Asked what he plans to do if he returned to the show he said: “I’m going to bring Cheryl chocolates… I’d like to bring a bit of fun.”

Cheryl Fernandez-Versini and Louis Walsh
Cheryl and Louis are not the best of pals (Ian West/PA)

The Irish star previously quit The X Factor in 2007 and was replaced by American choreographer Brian Friedman for the early auditions. But after a few days Louis was rehired and Brian became the show’s creative director instead.

Rumours suggest the former Westlife manager would act as a neutral judge, sitting away from the panel and giving unbiased commentary on the contestants during the live shows.

The X Factor audience figures are already down over a million compared with 2014 and on its first head-to-head with Strictly Come Dancing a few weeks ago, the rival BBC show had over a million more viewers.