Louis Walsh describes suspected heart attack, rules out X Factor

Louis Walsh said his doctor suspects he had a minor heart attack while he was appearing on Celebrity Big Brother in 2024, and that he will not take part in a possible reboot of The X Factor. The former judge described anxiety during the reality show and said he needed medical attention, but the reports provide no independent medical confirmation of a heart attack. Speaking on The 2 Johnnies podcast, Walsh recalled expecting the programme to be enjoyable but said it was not. He said he had anxiety problems, needed medics and was sometimes allowed out of the house for a cup of tea. He also said he could not sleep and regretted joining the show, explaining that he had done it for the money. Walsh’s account makes clear that the heart-attack claim is his description of what his doctor suspects, rather than a confirmed diagnosis made public by a clinician or medical record. His comments about the experience were not shown during the series, according to the reports. Walsh also said he was looked after by the programme’s medics. Walsh, 74, appeared on Celebrity Big Brother alongside Sharon Osbourne in 2024.