Louis Walsh says talent shows are 'boring' now due to lack of honesty

Louis Walsh has hit out at today's talent shows, saying they are 'boring' because judges can no longer be honest.

The former X Factor judge spoke to Kate Thornton on White Wine Question Time, and remembered with her their time working on the show together, which Thornton used to host.

Walsh said one thing about his fellow judge Simon Cowell was that he was honest, even though some people might not have liked it.

He said: "It's boring now. Everyone is 'wonderful'. And 'you're going to be a star' and all that.

"I mean, they're not going to be a star. You know, there's very few stars out there."

WATCH: Louis Walsh on X Factor fun, 90s pop music and working with Simon Cowell

He said he thought honesty was important in the industry, where he has worked managing bands like Boyzone and Westlife through huge success.

He added: "It's very hard to make it in this business, even if you're good. I like to say it like it is, people either have it or they haven't got it. People come in singing, and they're nice. We forget about them two minutes later."

They also spoke about the early days of his career, and he remembered using a phone box in his local town to try and book gigs.

Listen to the full episode to hear what Louis misses about the 90s music scene, about why he thinks girls in bands 'don't like each other' and how he told Colin Farrell not to waste his time with acting

Thornton said: "That's how you started your career, in a phone box."

Walsh agreed and said starting 'at the bottom' was the best way to start, listing names like Robbie Williams, Gary Barlow and Sharon Osbourne as people who had earned their way to the top.

"You have to start at the bottom and claw your way there," he said. "And anybody I know that's made it and has a long career, that's what's happened. You earn it, you work it."

Thornton pointed out his relationship with the telephone had not changed, saying Walsh, more than anyone else she knew, was 'wedded' to his phone.

"Whenever I think of you, it's in your hand or it's nearby," she said. "Every single one of the acts that you've managed over the years, all of them, and anyone that's worked closely with you, we all do impressions of how you say goodbye."

He explained it was usually that he was trying to get rid of them, and so would say: "'Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye.' I've a bigger name on the other line."

WATCH: Louis Walsh on Colin Farrell's audition for Boyzone