Louis "admits 'X Factor' mistake"

Louis Walsh has apparently admitted that he made a mistake by booting out X Factor hopeful Maria Lawson at the weekend.

The Irish judge was accused of "voting with his passport" when he kept in fellow nationals The Conway Sisters in the Saturday night showdown.

"They are still there because they're Irish," said Maria. "The problem is Louis has a lot of history with them. He's almost obligated to protect them."

Louis is quoted by the Daily Star as saying: "It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make. I didn't sleep at all on Saturday night after the vote. I'm man enough now to say I think I might have made the wrong decision."

The Conway Sisters are the 6/5 favourites to face the axe this week.