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On Saturday, everyone's favourite pop contest - ITV1's The X Factor - returns to our screens. Most will be tuning in to try and spot the next Leona or Alexandra Burke, laugh at the failures, snicker at Simon's put-downs and observe whether the Dannii/Cheryl dynamic has improved from last year. However, at the cornerstone of the reality show is Louis Walsh - a man with an instinct for great pop and a canny knack of making successful boybands. Keep reading to find out ten fascinating facts about the cheeky Irishman.
1. Louis Walsh was born in Kiltimagh, County Mayo in 1952. However, if you thought that was his real name, think again! He was actually born Michael Louis Vincent. No, we don't know why he changed it either.
2. Louis first began working as a music manager at the tender age of 15. The heavy rock group Time Machine were a million miles away from the boyband ballads that he would become associated with in the '90s.
3. Louis may have a fantastic success rate with pop acts, but he has been known to pick out an occasional dud. Do you remember The Carter Twins, Bellefire or Six? No, neither do we!
4. Walsh made the leap into the big time when he was working at a record label in Ipswich. He spotted and recruited the talent of singer Johnny Logan, who went on to triumph in the Eurovision Song Contest and consequently reached number one in 11 countries.
5. Louis has managed many great pop acts - Boyzone, Westlife, Girls Aloud - but how many number ones does he have to his name? The number is a surprising and impressive 28! We're sure he's got plenty more up his sleeves as well.
6. What would Louis have done if he hadn't made it as a successful music mogul? Well, we're not entirely sure, but his first job was pulling pints in a pub called the Blues Inn in Calermorris. Somehow, we can't imagine Louis as a landlord.
7. Louis is well-known for his love of boybands, but what else does he listen to on his car stereo? Well, he has confessed to being a fan of acts as diverse as Elton John, Oasis, Celine Dion, Bette Midler and Welsh indie act Los Campesinos!.
8. On The X Factor, Louis comes across has as a harmless and amiable chap. However, he did make an enemy of Boyzone's Ronan Keating when the singer's solo career took off. "That man absolutely tried to ruin me and if he thinks we can ever hug and make up he can forget it," said Ronan. "I haven't heard from him in three years and I wouldn't have a problem if I never saw him again. He's not a nice character." Ooh-er!
9. What's Louis's biggest career regret to date? Apparently, it's splitting from a certain girlband called Girls Aloud. "I suppose one regret I do have is not giving them enough of my time while managing them," he admitted. "They are a great bunch of talented girls and I wish them well!" We think they're doing just fine without you, Louis.
10. If Louis could have any three people in the world pop round for dinner, who would they be? Apparently he'd pick his buddies Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and comic Joan Rivers. Not particularly imaginative, but whatever floats your boat, Louis.
