Louis Walsh wouldn't mind if Cheryl Tweedy returned to 'The X Factor'.

Louis Walsh

Louis Walsh

The Irish music manager hasn't seen eye-to-eye with the 'Call My Name' hitmaker since he labelled her former band Girls Aloud "fat" over a decade ago, but the pair have seemingly buried the hatchet as he has admitted he wouldn't have any issues with the brunette beauty if she were to reclaim her judging job on the singing show.

Speaking to The Sun newspaper, he said: "If Cheryl comes back that's fine. Look, we would agree to disagree on certain things but that's what makes it good. We all get on."

However, the 65-year-old judge has admitted he'd rather have Nicole Scherzinger - who has sat on the panel for the past two consecutive years - beside him when the show returns to screens this year because she has such a "strong work ethic."

He explained: "Nicole is my favourite because of her work ethic. She just gets into it and you never know what she's going to say, do or wear. That's why I love her because she brings a whole new energy to it."

Cheryl, 34, made a brief return to the show for Simon Cowell's Judges Houses last year and wants her seat on the panel back permanently, but the 58-year-old music mogul is a little torn as he really likes the current judging line up, which includes himself, Louis, Nicole and Sharon Osbourne.

And, in order to satisfy everyone, he's considering a five-piece panel this year.

He said recently: "Nothing's a done deal and I do like this panel. But the good news is that now more people want to do the show than before. Is Cheryl keen to come back? She is, yes - I guess she is.

"I think I'll go into the New Year and then see how everyone feels. In the past, I've had to beg ­people to do the show, and it wasn't always that easy. People would do it for a ­season, and say, 'Right, I'm not coming back.' But now it's easier to do the show, it's much more fun. Maybe I'll have five people on the panel."

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