[New post] It’s over! Louis Walsh ‘axed from The X Factor after 11 years… as close friend Simon Cowell breaks the news himself’

Louis Walsh has been axed as a judge from The X Factor after 11 years.

The judging panel stalwart is said to have been told personally that he was no longer required on the show by boss Simon Cowell, claims The Sun on Sunday.

According to the paper, a senior show source on the ITV1 programme said that it was Simon's final decision to make the cut and also have him tell him man to man.

Scroll down for video  

 The AXE Factor: Louis Walsh's 11-year run on The X Factor has come to an end, according to reports in The Sun On Sunday

'They are close friends so Simon wanted to do this the right way,' the source said to the publication's Dan Wootton, adding that it went badly back in 2011 when he chose the show's executive producer to tell Cheryl Fernandez-Versini that she had lost her job on the US X Factor panel.

'So Simon spoke to Louis and told him that it's 95 per cent certain that he'll be 'stood down' this year.'

Another source close to the popular TV talent show added of the 62-year-old: 'Viewers had become sick of Louis' constant use of tired cliches and the same old jokes.'

They also claimed that the music manager was just 'going through the motions' in recent years.

'They're close friends': The show's boss Simon Cowell is a long-term pal of Louis', and he is said to have broken the news personally to the music manager

End of an era: Louis and Simon have long been friends, and it's claimed the X Factor boss wants Louis for Ireland's Got Talent

However, it's not all doom and gloom for Louis, whose main claim to fame other than X Factor is that of managing boybands Westlife and Boyzone.

He has apparently been earmarked by Simon for Ireland's Got Talent, and may be tempted back to The X Factor as a music expert and behind-the-scenes aide.

The paper has reported that the 55-year-old music industry and TV mogul is keen to get Louis on the panel for the Irish version of his other hugely popular show Britain's Got Talent, which would be filmed near his home in Dublin.

Louis was previously booted off the show eight years ago on 2007's series and was replaced by dancer Brian Friedman, but it didn't last long and Simon quickly reinstated him as one-quarter of the judging panel.

Last year Louis was so excitied to have Simon back

 He's been there forever: Louis was one of the original judges on the panel back when The X Factor began in 2004, alongside fellow judge Sharon Osbourne and the first presenter, Kate Thornton

What a team: Back in the day, the judging panel was made up of three

He's been through many different iterations of the showbiz line-up, sitting alongside the likes of Sharon Osbourne, Mel B, Kelly Rowland, Nicole Scherzinger, Gary Barlow and Tulisa - as well as Cheryl - over the years.

A source close to Louis is reported to have said that he's happy with the decision.

Indeed, during an interview on The Seven O'Clock Show in April, he appeared to confirm that he was leaving The X Factor this year.

'I’m done with X Factor, honestly,' he admitted on the Irish chat show.

'I've done 11 seasons and that's a long time in television - I don't think I'll be going back.'

The long-term manager and TV favourite then went on to reveal that Simon had big plans in store for this year's judging panel.

'I think they are going to change the show,' he added. 'I think they are going to get new faces.

Line-up changes: Over the years, Louis has been one of the only judges to remain throughout the many swaps - one of the more popular line-ups included Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini

'I know Dermot [O'Leary] is gone - and I don't know who else will be back.

'Simon will probably be back because it's his show. Cheryl [Cole]... I'm not sure. I don't know who else will be back.'

Louis then explained he had decided not to return to The X Factor this year as he wanted to focus on being a music manager again, which he is now doing.

'I want to go back to being a manager - that's my day job and I've neglected it for a long time because I'm away so much.

'At the moment, I’m working with Shane Filan - he’s got a new record coming out, and I’m also working with Hometown.

'I’d like to get back to where I started off… I never even wanted to be on TV, it just happened.'

The news of Louis' departure from the prime time hit TV show comes just weeks after the show's beloved presenter Dermot O'Leary revealed he was leaving, to be replaced by former Xtra Factor hosts Caroline Flack and Olly Murs.

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Louis Walsh and The X Factor and is awaiting comment.

 Onto pastures new: The Irish music mogul is said to be happy with the news and, as recently as April, he admitted that he was 'done' with the show