Louis Walsh has begged Simon Cowell to return to The X Factor in the UK as the show's ratings slumped yet again over the weekend.
Louis Walsh has pleaded with Simon Cowell to make an X Factor return amid falling ratings (Picture: Getty Images)
The music manager made his plea to Cowell after just 7.6m tuned in to the show's number ones-themed edition on Saturday night - 3m fewer than the equivalent show in 2011.
The show was also beaten in the ratings by Strictly Come Dancing for the fifth week in a row, with the BBC One show attracting 2m more viewers on Saturday night - its biggest victory over The X Factor since 2006.
And Walsh has now said that Cowell needs to return to the show to revive its fortunes, following the renewed success of Britain's Got Talent after he rejoined the panel this year.
Simon Cowell is currently a judge on the US version of the show (Picture: NBC)
'If Simon did come back, he'd have the number one show,' Walsh said.
'That's the thing about Simon, he wants to be number one. We need him in the building, he's always fun, he keeps everybody on their toes.'
He added to the Sun: 'I wish he'd come back.'
As well as falling ratings for Saturday's show, Sunday's results show is also suffering - again, just 7.6m tuned in this weekend to see Kye Sones lose out to controversial finalist Rylan Clark.
The drop in viewers could potentially cost ITV considerable amounts in advertising revenue, given the high rates that it charges for adverts during the weekend's two shows.
The US version - which was recently renewed for a third series - has also seen a downturn in viewers, with the first live final pulling in an audience of 7.6m, compared with the 11.8m who watched the same show in 2011.
Meanwhile, Gary Barlow has denied rumours that he will not be returning for another series, despite reports he had 'privately agreed' with ITV that he would quit.
According to the Mirror, the 41-year-old - who was left fuming again on Sunday night after Kye lost out to Rylan - was set to vacate the judging panel in order to spend more time on Take That and with his family.
However his representative has since said he has 'no plans' to quit.
An X Factor spokesperson added: 'We are currently focused on this series.
'No-one is even thinking or talking about next year and who may or may not be on the panel.'
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