'He kind of changed my life' - Louis Walsh on working alongside Simon Cowell
Louis Walsh, who is currently on the judging panel of Ireland's Got Talent and whose wildcard Bary D'Arcy from Cork is competing in this weekend's semi-final, joined Ray D'Arcy on RTÉ Radio 1.
Speaking about the range of acts on the show, he said that the dance groups this year were particularly talented and revealed that he himself cannot dance and that he would never appear on the likes of Dancing with the Stars.
He also spoke to Ray about managing Westlife, his time on Irish television, his move to British television and working with Simon Cowell.
Simon's a really good friend of mine, he kind of changed my life because I did Westlife for 20 years and I used to talk to him every single day Ray and then he put me on TV in England.
"He was on Pop Idol and I was doing some Irish TV.
"It started for me here.
"I knew Simon and he knew I knew about music and he wanted people he liked so it was me, him and Sharon Osbourne. That was about 13 or 14 years ago on XFactor.
Louis said that he no longer speaks to Simon as regularly as he previously had because he doesn't own a mobile phone.
"He doesn't have a phone, no, but I know how to get in touch with him.
"I have an email and I have the housekeepers number, I have his PA's number and his girlfriend's number," he said.
On working alongside Simon, he said that he is an amazing force to work with.
Saturday's semi final we're ready for you 👊🏻 and so is Fionn McMorrow who'll be hoping he can dance his way to the final! ⭐#GotTalentIRL https://t.co/gqv1p7AzcZ
— Ireland's Got Talent (@GotTalentIRL) April 3, 2019
"If you've got Simon on your side you work, but he has to believe in you."
Louis told Ray that he believes singing shows are dying but that variety shows such as Ireland's Got Talent are still very popular.
People don't want to watch every singer, they want variety, they want dancing, they want magicians.
Ireland's Got Talent semi-final airs Saturday at 7.30pm and the final airs Sunday at 7.30pm on Virgin Media One.
