Louis Walsh has agreed to return to 'The X Factor' after he was offered a deal "just shy of a million" pound.

Louis Walsh

Louis Walsh

The 63-year-old music manager, who was dropped in 2014 following 11 years on the programme, has been persuaded to reclaim his seat on the judging panel after show boss Simon Cowell offered him a mega-money deal and agreed to hold contestant auditions in Louis' native Ireland.

A source explained: "The ink is just drying on Louis' contract, as he put pen to paper this week. He's really excited about returning, but one of his stipulations was that the 'X Factor' returned to Ireland to scout talent.

"The open auditions - which are only attended by producers, without any of the judges - took place in Dublin last month, but plans have been made to return with Louis and co. because it was important to him. Simon knows he had to make amends for dropping him last series, which he has previously admitted was a mistake. So it was the least he could do to make Louis happy this season."

And Louis isn't the only one to receive a contract as Sharon Osbourne - who originally appeared on the panel from 2004 until 2007 before making a brief return in 2013 - has also got hers but she's currently ironing out some of the finer details.

Nicole Scherzinger, who was a judge on the programme from 2012 until 2013, is also believed to be in talks about reclaiming her seat on the panel alongside Simon, 56.

The insider told The Daily Mirror newspaper: "Louis is the first judge to sign up. He is expecting to return with Nicole and Sharon, but their contracts have not been signed yet."

The new judging line-up comes just days after Rita Ora announced she was stepping away from the programme after just one series to focus on her music and acting career.

Meanwhile, the future of the singing show hung in the balance earlier this year after Nick Grimshaw and Cheryl decided to turn their backs on the ITV hit programme.

The former Girls Aloud singer has decided to pour her heart and soul into music and romance with Liam Payne, while the radio DJ wants to have his takeaway weekends back.

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