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X Factor to be axed?Cowell drops hintsabout shows end

One judge confirms their return to the reality show...

Louis Walsh has confirmed that he is to return to The X Factor for its ninth series.

Walsh is the only judge to have appeared on the judging panel since the show’s launch in 2004.

Confirming that he had signed a contract, he also told The Mirror that fellow judges Gary Barlow and Tulisa Contostavlos will return too, but he is unsure whether Kelly Rowland will.

"I am so happy to have signed up for another year. It's my ninth year, I'm the only person to be in it for nine years... I'm busy now from here until Christmas. I signed the deal yesterday - making it my ninth year on the show.

"I never wanted to be on TV, it was never in my plan. But now I'm on it, I love the show.”

He added:

"I know two of the judges who are going to be beside me, but I still don't know who the fourth is going to be just yet.

"I know for definite that Tulisa [Contostavlos] is back, and Gary [Barlow] is back. I'm not sure if Kelly is back, but I hope she is, because she worked really hard last year."

Barlow, Contostavlos and Rowland all joined the panel last year, replacing Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue.