The X Factor’s Louis Walsh defends Sharon Osbourne as show takes its toll on her

LOUIS Walsh has defended best friend Sharon Osbourne’s behaviour on the X Factor.

Hitting back at claims the 64-year-old has been drunk during the live shows, the Irishman stated she’s simply “exhausted” as the gruelling schedule takes its toll on her.

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Viewers have repeatedly suggested Mrs O has been having a few too many before going live after repeatedly forgetting act Saara Aalto’s name.

However, Louis told : “She’s not drunk! She’s knackered!

“It’s a busy job and we spend a lot of time with our acts and making sure the show is great – she’s just exhausted.”

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Louis added: “Knowing Mrs O she probably does it on purpose.

“She knows what she’s doing, she’s brilliant.”

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Defending her live gaffes, Sharon previous told Good Morning Britain: “I was thinking about something else.

“I wish I could come up with a better excuse... I was thinking about songs, and I wondered what that jukebox is going to land on, what are we going to do next week and then I’m like ‘oh she’s in the bottom two again’.

“All of this is going on in my head, and then they go ‘it’s you it’s you’ and ‘I’m like what? What am I doing?’”

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