Louis Walsh is a household name in Ireland and much of the UK and has been on our TV screens for over three decades.
The music man is set to appear on the Late Late show tonight to debut his new boy band, ‘Next In Line’.
In an interview with the Sunday World, Louis said: “Next In Line will have a younger audience than Westlife.”
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His name is actually Michael Vincent Walsh, but he chose to go by Louis.
The Mayo man has managed many famous Irish pop acts including Johnny Logan, Boyzone, Jedward, and of course, Westlife.
Louis was born in 1952 in Kiltimagh, Co Mayo, and celebrated turning 70 last month.
His parents were Maureen and Frank Walsh and he has seven siblings.
According to Spears Magazine, he has a reported net worth of €104 million.
Moving up to Dublin
Louise moved up Dublin to start his music industry career in the 1990s.
Walsh had the desire to create an Irish version of Take That, which newspapers picked up on when he advertised the open auditions.
The end result was Boyzone, whom he managed to international success with 16 top three singles, six of which were number ones, as well as four number one albums, selling more than 20 million copies worldwide.
When Ronan Keating announced he wanted to take a break from Boyzone, Walsh continued to manage his career.
Walsh then went back to the boy band formula to create Westlife, which Keating co-managed with Walsh for the first couple of Westlife's number one singles and albums.
Love life
The music mogul is rather private about his personal life.
Louis has shared his opinion on talent shows for 30 years, but in regards to his own relationships, the manager behind Boyzone has always remained tight-lipped.
As far as dating in the public eye, Louis has never done so and has never answered questions about who he is dating.
Television career
He later became a talent judge on various television shows such as Popstars, You're a Star, The X Factor, and Ireland's Got Talent.
Louis started out as a judge on the Irish version of reality show Popstars in 2001 in which Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle featured and had her famous passport moment.
The X Factor
Louis appeared from 2004 as a judge, along with Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne, on ITV talent show The X Factor.
In 2005, Walsh managed the winner Shayne Ward, whose debut single That's My Goal spent four weeks at UK number one.
On June 7, 2018, Walsh announced he had decided not to return for the fifteenth series, in order to focus on music management and other commitments.
In 2019, Walsh along with Cowell and Scherzinger returned to The X Factor as judges in the newly created format The X Factor: Celebrity.
He was mentor of the winner Megan McKenna, marking Walsh's third overall victory on the show.
Caroline Flack 'marriage'
In 2012, Louis jokingly walked down the aisle with Xtra Factor presenter Caroline Flack during a spoof segment on the show.
The pair 'got married' at the infamous Little White Chapel in Las Vegas by an Elvis Presley impersonator.
Louis and Caroline exchanged vows at the chapel before sealing their romance with a kiss.
Following her tragic death in February 2020, the music manager paid a touching tribute to his former colleague.
He said: "I really liked her, she was great fun and just a pleasure to be around. She spoke her mind and was always up for a laugh."
Back in 2013, Louis briefly addressed his sexuality after refusing to answer a question during an interview with the Sunday Times.
When asked, he replied: "I can't... Don't go there. I can't.
"I think your private life is your private life... I'm happy. Happy as Larry!"
Ronan Keating feud
When Ronan Keating announced he wanted to take a break from Boyzone, Louis continued to manage his career.
Ronan achieved a number one hit with "Life is a Rollercoaster" in 2000 while his album sold 4.4 million copies.
Keating and Walsh later agreed to part ways, and then had a bitter falling out.
Louis told the press at the time, "He wasn't the most talented one – he's not a great singer and he's got no personality."
Keating later told Closer magazine, "That man absolutely tried to ruin me and if he thinks we can ever hug and make up he can forget it. 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."
The feud between the two men had apparently ended by March 2008.
Mel B on the Xtra Factor
During an interview conducted by Sarah-Jane Crawford on The Xtra Factor during the semi-final results show in 2014, Walsh inappropriately touched Mel B.
Mel B scolded Louis and moved away from him, who said he was only "looking after her".
Crawford and the other judges, Cowell and Cheryl, tried to reassure her that she was "safe" while laughing off the gesture.
After resurfacing on social media in July 2018, a few months after the Me Too movement began, the clip amassed millions of views on social media; it prompted discussion on the treatment of women by men and drew condemnation of Walsh.
Girls Aloud weight jibe
Louis waged war on Cheryl Cole back in the early 2000s when he labelled all the members of Girls Aloud as 'fat'.
Lifting the lid on Louis' harsh jibe, Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh explained that the music manager walked on to the set of their music video and applauded them all for 'not being fat' anymore' in 2004.
In a 2017 interview with BUILD Series LDN, Kimberly revealed: "We were doing our video for Love Machine in 2004 and Louis Walsh waltzed in and said to us, "Oh, none of you are fat any more. Brilliant, that’s great.”
She added: "Obviously in Louis’ head he did have an issue with some of our sizes but I think he learnt from Nigel and thought best not to comment in public - but he did in private.”
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