Louis Walsh: "I'm quietly confident"

Louis Walsh has suggested that one of his groups may yet win this year's X Factor.

The reality talent judge had previously said that his acts could only get as far as the final but would not win the competition.

Walsh told BBC Newsbeat: "I'm quietly confident. Listen, I got to the final last year with JLS. They're the big success act.

"I got there with G4. I won it with Shayne [Ward]. I could be in the final this year. Only one act is going to win. 11 are going to go home. It's wide open, I think."

He added: "I've got two very good girl bands. [John & Edward] can only get better. They're young, they're inexperienced, they've no sob story.

"I had a few reasons for putting them through. One of the reasons [was to annoy Simon Cowell]. I didn't put them through because they're Irish."

Walsh's acts have said that his past comments have either been misquoted or were part of a deliberate ploy to manage expectations and pressure.