Louis Walsh denies Gately husband rift

Louis Walsh has rubbished claims that he does not get along with Stephen Gately's husband Andy Cowles.

The judge, who missed last weekend's X Factor to attend the Boyzone singer's funeral in Dublin, dismissed reports that he resisted a hug from Cowles at the service.

"I like him a lot. He was so good for Stephen," Walsh told The Sun.

The 57-year-old founded Boyzone in 1993 after placing an advertisement in Irish newspapers searching for five boys to rival Take That.

Gately and Cowles were first introduced by Elton John and David Furnish and entered into a civil partnership in March 2006. Gately died while holidaying in Majorca on October 10.