The moment Louis Walsh finally lost the plot

At 8.30pm, you could hear the hullaballoo across the land, as people shouted 'No!' and threw things at their tellies.

The cause, of course, was Louis Walsh on The X Factor. He gave us Wagner last year but has now finally lost the plot.

I couldn't believe it when he selected thin-as-a-rake, camp 45-year-old Johnny Robinson, who's likeable enough but hardly has the best voice. And definitely doesn't fit Louis's own criteria of wanting someone contemporary, edgy and the next big pop star. He looks more like a cartoon character or puppet. Or Melvyn Hayes.

But I got really annoyed when he went for annoying diva Kitty and, even worse, joke act Goldie over lovely Sami who can actually sing.

Thank goodness Goldie pulled out, perhaps realising that she would only become a laughing stock. Or she only entered for a bet and never expected to get through to the final. I mean, who on earth in their right mind would put her through?

And I'm glad he put soldier Jonjo in, after a ridiculously drawn-out programme crammed full of more sobbing and cliches than ever before. "This means everything to me," "This is make or break, "This is the hardest decision I have ever had to make," etc etc etc.

But Louis, this is really not funny any more.