Louis Walsh is being drafted in to save The X Factor yet again, according to reports.

The 63-year-old music manager announced earlier this year that he was stepping down as a judge on the show after 11 years, and he has been replaced on the panel by Radio 1 DJ Nick Grimshaw.

The X Factor judging panel
Nick Grimshaw has replaced Louis on the judging panel (ITV)

But The Sun has reported Louis is in talks with old friend Simon Cowell to return to the talent show as a ‘fifth judge’ in a bid to boost flagging ratings.

The former Westlife manager would apparently acts as a neutral judge, sitting away from the panel and delivering and giving unbiased commentary on the contestants during the live shows.

Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh
Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh are old friends (Jon Furniss/Invision)

Louis said in May this year: “I’m not hanging around for them this year because I want to go back to being a manager. I wasn’t sacked but I haven’t been hired.”

Simon tweeted at the time to say Louis had left on good terms.

The Irish star previously quit The X Factor in 2007 and was replaced by American choreographer Brian Friedman for the early auditions. But after a few days Louis was rehired and Brian became the show’s creative director instead.

The X Factor audience figures are already down over a million compared with 2014 and on its first head-to-head with Strictly Come Dancing, the rival BBC show had over a million more viewers.