Louis Walsh has not been told that he has been axed from The X Factor – despite Simon Cowell apparently confirming his exit.

Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw and One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson have both been tipped as possible replacements for the Irish judge, who has served almost 11 years on the ITV singing talent search.

But a source said: “Louis has not been told by Simon he’s not back on the show.”

Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell (Anthony Devlin/PA)

Cowell has appeared to confirm that Walsh will not be back on this year’s panel on Twitter.

Walsh, 62, hinted earlier this year that he was ready to leave.

“I think I’m done with X Factor honestly,” he told Irish television. “My day job is as a manager, I’ve kind of neglected that. I want to get back to being a manager.”

He is reportedly being lined up for a job on Ireland’s Got Talent.

Nick Grimshaw
Nick Grimshaw has been suggested as a possible replacement for Louis Walsh (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

A shake-up to the series, which was beaten by Strictly Come Dancing in the ratings last year, has seen presenter Dermot O’Leary replaced by Olly Murs and Caroline Flack.

A spokesman for the X Factor said: “There is a great deal of speculation over the judging line-up for this year’s series.

“However, no formal decision has been made regarding the full judging line-up for this year’s X Factor.”