Tulisa may be facing the axe as a judge on The X Factor, but it seems Louis Walsh is safe.
The music manager has been told by show bosses, including his close friend Simon Cowell, that his job on the show is secure and he will return for a tenth series later this year.
A source told The Sun: "He's been told by the heads of entertainment at ITV that he's coming back and [executive producer] Richard Holloway has also said he'll be back.
"Obviously he wants to see the contract in his hand but everyone who has the power to make a decision on it has said he's coming back so if that changes something very odd has gone on.
"Normally it's Simon who upsets the apple cart at the last minute but he's been desperate to keep Louis on the show so he's unlikely to give him the axe.
"He's always said he wants to do 10 series of the show."
It had been claimed ITV didn't want Louis to return, but agreed after Cowell consented to their request to have Gary Barlow continue in his role as head judge, despite the music mogul regarding the Take That frontman as "boring".
Nicole Scherzinger is understood to be negotiating a new contract, while former judge Sharon Osbourne is tipped to replace Tulisa, who is rumoured to have been axed.
Cowell, other show chiefs and ITV bosses will hold a host of meetings next week to discuss the new series, and though the channel are not wanting to pay any more money, there could be bigger budgets for the live shows by shortening the season.
