X-Factor / Dan Fitch / 10 November 2010 / 4

After the infamous 'Lenny Henry' comment, Dan Fitch takes a look at some moments of Louis Walsh television gold.

There was one moment that stole the show on the X-Factor last week, when the reliably stupid Louis Walsh said that Paije Richardson reminded him of "a little Lenny Henry".

As soon as Walsh made the comment, Simon Cowell's head spun round in shock as he mentally calculated the Ofcom complaints that would be flooding in. Luckily the ever sharp Cowell soon came up with a plan to fix the judges' voting, so that people would be too busy complaining about that, than to bother with an instance of casual racism.

To be fair to Louis, his entire judging style consists of stating that the contestants put him in mind of other people. He also said this week that One Direction reminded him of JLS, Boyzone and Take That - a rather disparate collection of groups, who have absolutely nothing in common, apart from the fact that all their members have a penis.

Walsh got into problems when trying to sum up Paije, because he clearly has a very small frame of reference when it comes to naming black performers. But then anyone who has ever heard Westlife's music won't be surprised to learn that their manager can't name a single black musical artist.

So can we be the first to suggest that Louis Walsh shouldn't forever be known as a racist idiot and should instead be thought of as just an idiot? As way of proof, we've collected 10 TV moments that confirm Walsh's lifelong dedication to idiocy. Now just don't let us down this week Louis by describing Paije as a big Arnold from Different Strokes.

10. Louis is no Jacko

If you thought that Bo Selecta was bad, you haven't heard Louis' impression of Michael Jackson.

9. Louis is no Cheryl either

Cheryl looks appalled as Louis sings her biggest solo hit, although at least he isn't miming like she normally does.

8. Sent out for giggling

Like a naughty schoolboy, Louis was sent out of the room after giggling at the thought of a woman riding a horse.

7. He is a pajama wearer

Konnie Huq can only dream of possessing the sort of investigative nous, that results in the revelation that Louis wears pajamas.

6. The Watergate scandal

When you audition for the X-Factor you'd don't expect to have water thrown over you by one of the judges. She did deserve it though...

5. He can't take criticism

Having been forced to sit through Jedward's warbling, are the X-Factor crowd not entitled to boo Walsh's act? Louis doesn't think so and makes his feelings towards the crowd known.

4. Uninvited chat show guest

Louis gatecrashes a Westlife interview and insults the host in a moment of car crash television.

3. Louis upsets Ricky Gervais

The comedian that Louis was comparing an X-Factor contestant to two years ago, was Ricky Gervais. This was a dangerous thing to do, considering that Gervais is a lot funnier than Lenny Henry.

2. He can't make a joke

Louis is brilliant at making people laugh at him unintentionally, but can't quite manage it deliberately. Just listen to the tumbleweed whistling by, after Walsh's one-liner falls flat.

1. Louis has no control over his face

Whilst Dannii Minogue's expression remains permanently fixed as the result of hideous amounts of botox, Louis can't help but let the world know what he's feeling through the medium of his face. Harry Hill's TV Burp helpfully created a collection of such instances, entitled: 'The Many Faces of Louis Walsh'.

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(4)

1. Alejandra | 10 November 2010

   sorry, but Louis Walsh is the best!

2. lenny | 10 November 2010

   louis is the best judge on x factor.

3. D French | 12 November 2010

   I'm sorry but how is that racist?

   If I said you look like a little Louis Walsh is that racist against irish people? white people?

   I mean I know its offensive but not at all racist

4. Anonymous | 16 October 2011

   Louis Walsh is an idiot

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