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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Vicki Newman

Louis Walsh kickstarts campaign to get Simon Cowell a knighthood

Louis Walsh wants to kickstart a campaign to get Simon Cowell a knighthood.

And the X Factor star won't rest until his pal is officially dubbed 'Sir Simon' by the Queen of England.

Speaking exclusively to Mirror Online backstage at Dublin's Croke Park, where his band Westlife were playing to 85,000 people on their Twenty Tour, Louis thanked Simon for the role he'd played in the band's success.

The music manager said Simon hasn't had enough credit as he deserves.

Speaking about his return to the X Factor for the Celebrity and All Stars versions, he said: "I've had more comebacks than Frank Sinatra, but look, I love Simon, I understand him when we’re in a room together he makes me laugh.

Louis, Simon and Nicole are returning to X Factor (Syco/Thames/REX/Shutterstock)
Louis wants a knighthood for Simon (Getty Images)

"I slag him, I take the p**s out of him but he’s an amazing man, the reason I’m here today is because of Simon.

"He started Westlife, he gave us all those hits. You know we don’t give him the credit, I'm giving it now. He gave us all those songs.

"I worked with him every day, him, Sonny [Takhr, Westlife's other manager] and me for 20 years, that’s why we get on so well. Simon should be a Sir, why can’t we start the campaign for him to be a Sir?"

Louis also revealed that Nicole Scherzinger was returning to the X Factor, alongside him and Simon, for the new versions of the show.

Sir Simon? ((Credit too long, see caption))

And filming is set to begin on the Celebrity version tomorrow.

Speaking on Friday, he told us: "I go to Los Angeles on Tuesday, I go to Simon’s house in Malibu, it’s me Simon and Nicole and we’re doing the celebrity one.

"We haven’t been told who the celebrities are I’ve just read bits in the papers. They want it to be a surprise to us when they walk out."

Louis told us that Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke and Shayne Ward are all on the line up for the 'All Stars' version.

He added: "It’s going to be great, and then we do the 'best of' all in one week, all the winners are coming back. Leona's coming back, Alexandra, Shayne, they’re all coming back."

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