Louis Walsh banned 'X Factor' hopefuls from performing Oasis songs in front of Nicole Appleton.
The former All Saints star has been in St. Tropez, France, helping the Irish music mogul to decide which contestants should pass the crucial Judges House stage of the competition before the live finals next month, but hopefuls were told to avoid songs by the band's frontman following her split from him.
Nicole - who has an 11-year-old son, Gene, with Liam - is reportedly still "cut up" over her and Liam's break up in July following reports he had fathered a child with US journalist Liza Ghorbani.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Everyone was thrilled when Nicole agreed to come over to France and help Louis out. She's still incredibly cut up about everything that has happened with Liam so it was very brave of her to thrust herself straight back into the limelight.
"Louis is very fond of Nicole and he wanted to make sure her time in St Tropez was as enjoyable as it possibly could be. For that reason he had a quick word with the contestants and told them not to sing anything written or performed by Liam."
Louis - who is mentoring the Boys category during his 10th year as a judge on the ITV talent show - was reportedly keen to avoid the awkward encounter during the trip, which also featured Sinitta and Westlife's Shane Filan.
The source added: "Oasis tracks may not be the usual X Factor fodder but Louis does have the Boys category this year so there was a chance one of them would decide to belt out 'Wonderwall' or something like that.
"That would have been extremely uncomfortable for Nicole and Louis thought it was better not to take the risk."
Nicole was drafted in as Louis' helper at the last minute after Kelly Osbourne dropped out.
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