Louis Walsh backs Gary and Lily for X Factor

Louis Walsh thinks Lily Allen and Gary Barlow would be "really good" 'X Factor' judges.

The Irish music mogul - who has been a panellist on the programme for all seven series - is unsure who will be putting hopefuls through their paces this year, following reports Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole are to depart the show to concentrate on the US version, but thinks the singers would be perfect choices, and also hopes Dannii Minogue is asked to return.

He said: "I've heard people say Gary Barlow and Lily Allen could be in the running. They'd make good judges and I'd like to see Dannii back."

While Louis has views on who he would like to see on the panel, he admits his own future on the show is not yet certain, though he has been told to clear his diary for auditions in May and expects to return.

However, he added to The Sun newspaper: "There's nothing set in stone. I haven't seen a contract."

While Louis thinks Lily would be great on the show, she claimed this week she wasn't interested in joining the judging panel.

She tweeted: "i'll only do it if there's a "pop songs in a foreign language week"(sic)"

Other rumoured names in the frame to take over as judges include former panellist Sharon Osbourne, Boyzone star Ronan Keating - who is currently a judge on the Australian version of the show - Michael Buble and Lionel Richie.