Louis Walsh has dismissed former X Factor co-judge Simon Cowell as a \u201chas been\u201d, revealing the pair have not spoken \u201cin years\u201d.<\/p>\n
Walsh\u2019s outspoken remarks come ahead of the 19th series of Britain’s Got Talent, and he was equally scathing about the programme\u2019s current form.<\/p>\n
Asked about the new series, Walsh told reporters: \u201cBGT, who cares?! It\u2019s not what it was.<\/p>\n
\u201cBack in the old days it was \u00adpulling in 12 million and the whole country cared who won.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow it doesn\u2019t feel like that, who even won last year? Cowell was incredible in his prime, I just don\u2019t think he\u2019s got that same instinct now.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s surrounded by people who won\u2019t tell him the truth anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 73-year-old also suggested Cowell, 66, has changed since settling down, claiming the music mogul is now a family man whose fianc\u00e9e, Lauren Silverman, 48, controls his phone and diary, The Sun on Sunday reports.<\/p>\n
Walsh rose to prominence in the 1980s as manager of Eurovision winner Jonny Logan before going on to guide some of the biggest pop acts of the era, including Boyzone, Girls Aloud, Westlife and Jedward.<\/p>\n
The first episode of BGT’s 19th series aired last night and saw Youtuber KSI join the judging panel <\/a>alongside Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon.<\/p>\n The Sun reports that it has seen text messages Walsh sent about Cowell, in which he wrote, “He’s done now” and “surrounded by fakes”.<\/p>\n Walsh said he had not heard from Cowell in many years, adding the former X Factor boss now resides in the US with Lauren and their son Eric, 11.<\/p>\n Walsh added: “Lauren\u2019s in charge of his diary, and his phone, I\u2019ve not heard from him in years.”<\/p>\n