Louis won't be holding back with Cheryl on 'X Factor' says Shane

Louis Walsh will be giving it to Cheryl Cole with both barrels on the new series of the X Factor.

That's according to his protege Shane Filan (34) who revealed how the Mayo man won't be afraid of stepping on Cheryl's toes on the 11th instalment of the show.

She fired the first shot recently by saying it was "frosty" between her and Louis - with Shane predicting fireworks. "I think it will be a very good panel this year. I'm sure there will be lots of words over and back between the judges," he said.

"Louis won't care what Cheryl or anyone else thinks about him. He's there to do a job, and if anyone says something to him he's well able to give it back. He just says it as it is. It's going to make for great TV.

"Simon Cowell is a very, very shrewed man and he has a very good TV head on him, probably the best in the world. Louis is like his sidekick, he always bounces off him on the show. I think Mel B is going to be really entertaining as well. It's the best line-up for a long time."

The former Westlife star is just back from a whirlwind promotional trip to Asia which he described as "the maddest two weeks of my life". He'll return to China for a string of concerts this autumn.

He'll also be donning his stetson at Croke Park next month when he supports country music star Garth Brooks during the biggest string of gigs ever staged there.

And the Sligo man said he hopes his former bandmates will come down to support him on July 26 and 27. The last time he performed there was in 2012 for Westlife's final trio of sell-out gigs and now he'll be singing there solo.

"I haven't talked to them about it but I'm sure a few of the lads will be there. Everyone in the entertainment industry will probably make it to one of the concerts," he said.

"It's unbelievable to be supporting Garth Brooks, it's the gig of a lifetime. I was looking forward to the actual show and making a weekend of it and now I'm performing at it.

"He's an absolute legend, so hopefully I'm going to be able to meet him. It's definitely a huge boost for my career. I'm going to put on a really good show." Busy Shane will also be performing this weekend at the Westport Festival, just ahead of David Gray.

Source: Independent