Louis stressed at sackings

X Factor judge Louis Walsh seems to have returned to his traditional role as Mr Nice, revealing that he got stressed when he had to get rid of three o

12:16 07 October 2005

X Factor judge Louis Walsh seems to have returned to his traditional role as Mr Nice, revealing that he got stressed when he had to get rid of three of his proteges before the final of the reality TV talent contest.

Louis is in charge of the 16 to 24-year-olds, and of the seven that he has been looking after, only four can go through to the final.

In this weekend's episode, Louis takes the seven hopefuls to Dublin, and sacks three of them.

"I'm pleased with everybody I picked, but it was the hardest thing I've ever done," he told the Manchester Evening News.

"I only put them through if I really believed in them. But some who didn't get through took it really badly.

"It didn't hit me when I was doing it but, that afternoon, I actually had to go to bed. I was very stressed out."

Louis is traditionally much nicer than fellow judge Simon Cowell, but this year saw him indulge in a change of image, slagging off wannabe popstars and laughing out loud at some of the less talented acts.

But perhaps the reality of nastiness has got the better of him, and he's reacquainted himself with his softer side.