'I have nothing bad to say about them': Louis Walsh wishes pregnant Cheryl all the best... as he dismisses Liam Payne's furious Twitter storm 

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Louis Walsh has wished former X Factor judge Cheryl all the best as she prepares for motherhood – days after facing heavy criticism for his dismissive handling of a question about the pregnant star.

The Irishman, 64, was publicly slammed by Liam Payne after telling a journalist to ‘F*** off’ when asked if he’d like Cheryl, 33, to return to the ITV juggernaut's judging panel.

But Louis has since extended an olive branch to the couple, who are currently preparing for the birth of their first child.

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All the best: Louis Walsh has wished former X Factor judge Cheryl all the best as she prepares for motherhood – days after facing heavy criticism from her boyfriend for his dismissive handling of a question about the pregnant star

He told the Daily Star: ‘I think Cheryl and Liam starting a family will make her really happy. I honestly think she deserves to be happy. And I think this will make her happy over and above what her career does.

'I don’t think being a mum will affect her career at all if she doesn’t want it to. It’s never too late. I only wish her the best.' 

Referring to One Direction singer Liam’s angry remarks across social media, he added: ‘Liam’s a nice guy. I have nothing bad to say about them.’  

He told the Daily Star : ‘I think Cheryl and Liam starting a family will make her really happy. I honestly think she deserves to be happy.' 

Criticising the way Louis handled a question about his  pregnant girlfriend Cheryl, Liam, 23, previously raged: 'Congratulations Louis Walsh for setting the worst example on handling media for his band who are about to step into a very hard industry.' 

He swiftly followed it up with a second tweet, which read: 'Maybe it's about time you realise it's not all about you and shut the f**k up for once, let them speak' 

The singer was referring to Louis's act Five After Midnight, who were stood beside their mentor at the time. 

The furore started when a reporter asked Louis what he'd do if Simon Cowell asked Cheryl to return to the judging panel.

Riled, the Irishman responded: 'Well Simon wouldn't invite Cheryl back because we have Nicole. We have Nicole and Sharon, we don't need another girl. 

Ouch: Liam Payne has launched a bitter Twitter tirade against Louis Walsh after the X Factor judge told a reporter to 'f**k off' at a photocall ahead of this weekend's final

Not holding back: Liam claimed Louis was setting a band example for his act, 5AM

Me, me, me: He then claimed that Louis loved the limelight 

'F**k off!': Louis shot down a reporter with a four-letter expletive when asked what he'd do if Simon asked Cheryl to return to the judging panel, at an X Factor photocall ahead of this weekend's final

'So go and f**k off now!' 

He then lent forward and playfully slapped at the reporter, before adding: 'No silly questions, seriously. It's not about Cheryl. Don't be stupid, man.' 

The 5AM boys found the incident hilarious, laughing as Louis had his outburst.

Louis was also dismissive when asked about Spice Girls offshoot GEM pulling out of a surprise collaboration with the boys in the final.

He said: 'It's not about The Spice Girls, it's about Five After Midnight... so stop talking about them.' 

Straight-talking: Riled, the Irishman responded: 'Well Simon wouldn't invite Cheryl back because we have Nicole. We have Nicole and Sharon, we don't need another girl'

Hitting out: He then lent forward and playfully slapped at the reporter

Letting loose: Louis has shown his feisty side on this series of X Factor

Laughing out loud: The 5AM boys found the incident hilarious, laughing as Louis had his outburst

Both Louis and Dermot admitted to MailOnline that they have not yet seen or congratulated Cheryl since the debut of her pregnancy bump.

Speaking at the photocall for the final at Wembley Arena, the judge claimed he was 'not really excited' about it as he has not seen her for so long, while the host admitted he will not congratulate her until 'it's official'. 

The Promise This singer was a judge on the ITV singing competition for four years in total - working alongside Louis and Dermot in 2008-10 and again in 2014. 

At the photo call on Thursday, the duo remained coy about the rumours of her pregnancy with boyfriend Liam Payne, but both admitted that they had not seen her to congratulate her on the news. 

Dermot, 43, revealed that he did fully intend to pass his best wishes on to the brunette beauty, but that he was waiting for a conclusive announcement.

Remaining coy: X Factor host Dermot and judge Louis remained tight-lipped about former co-star Cheryl's pregnancy

Supportive: 5 After Midnight defended Louis' comments but added that they 'really support' Cheryl and Liam, whilst Kieran explained he knew how they felt as he has a baby on the way

5 After Midnight defended their mentor's comments during an appearance on ITV's Lorraine on Friday. 

Speaking to Dan Wootton as they took time out from rehearsals, Kieran Alleyne - who recently revealed his girlfriend is pregnant, explained: 'Louis is Louis, he’ll do what he does! 

'We really support Cheryl and Liam with their situation… I know how it feels , I’ve got a baby on the way.' 

The big debut: The pair admitted they had not seen Cheryl since debuting her baby bump to pass on their well wishes

This isn't the first time Louis and Liam have locked horns - in an interview with The Telegraph, the plain spoken judge said One Direction's biggest downfall was that they 'believed the hype around them'.

He told the newspaper: 'We create monsters in the music business – they only become famous because they’ve been on the show and we got you those songs. 

'They’re lucky f**kers, but some get a sense of entitlement and believe the hype. Too many artists appear to forget where they came from.' 

1D were put together by Cowell on the 2010 series of The X Factor and went on to enjoy worldwide pop superstardom after placing third on the show.  

Gentleman: Dermot, 43, revealed that he did fully intend to pass his best wishes on to the brunette beauty, but that he was waiting for a conclusive announcement

New beginnings: However former fellow judge Louis, 64, remained more blasé, admitting he had not seen her due to his work with new judges Nicole Scherzinger and Sharon Osbourne

Confirmation? Cheryl set tongues wagging when she showcased a huge baby bump at the St James' Christmas Carol Concert in London earlier this month

He's also slammed Girls Aloud, claiming that Nadine Coyle was the 'only band member who could sing.'

In a radio Interview earlier this summer, The X Factor judge, 63 - who managed the chart-topping girlband in the early 2000s after they won Popstars: The Rivals - unleashed an epic tongue-lashing on the now-disbanded group, no doubt reigniting his long-running feud with Cheryl in the process.

'I didn't give them a lot of my time but they didn't give me time and they didn't even like each other!' he told Kate Thornton on BBC Radio 2.

Louis added: 'Nadine was the only real singer there. She should have married the footballer.

'Look at Victoria Beckham, it worked for her. And Louise Redknapp... and wasn't Cheryl married to a footballer?' 

As they were: Girls Aloud stars Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts, Nadoina Coyle, Kimberley Walsh and Cheryl back in 2002 after landing the Christmas Number One spot

The twosome have had regular spats since his relationship with the band turned sour in 2005.

Louis previously branded Cheryl 'lazy and irrelevant', with Cheryl hitting back on Twitter, accusing him of being obsessed with her.

At the time he told Heat of the star's stint on The X Factor: 'Cheryl wasn't great last year. She's sometimes lazy and lacks energy.

'She needs to give more, she can give so much more. She's irrelevant these days.'

The Hearbreaker singer, 32, hit back on social media, tweeting: 'I am beginning to wonder if Louis has some kind of an obsession with me. 

Cheryl is thought to be expecting a baby with One Direction's Liam Payne, who is ten years her junior.

The singer sparked rumours the pair were expecting earlier this year when she first debuted a fuller figure - before displaying a huge baby bump at St James' Christmas Carol Concert in London earlier this month. 

Kicking things off: The singer first sparked rumours she was expecting earlier this year when she debuted a fuller figure at a L'Oreal event in Paris

Loved-up: Dan Wootton then added fuel to the fire by telling Lorraine Kelly: 'She’s totally ecstatic, happy... apparently she's been very open with friends and family'

Doing it for the girls: New judge Sharon Osbourne was also present at the photo call with her remaining contestant Saara Aalto from Finland

With her blossoming appearance all by confirming her much-speculated pregnancy, The Sun's Dan Wootton took to Lorraine later that week to reveal the reason Cheryl has maintained her silence on the matter.

He told the show host: 'Cheryl’s told close friends and family. I think everyone knows the battles she’s gone through in her personal life, the fact she so desperately wanted this for so many years, and it didn’t come. 

'She’s totally ecstatic, happy... apparently she's been very open with friends and family.'

Further highlighting that the singing duo's relationship is only going from strength to strength, it was then reported that Liam was thinking about popping the question after the new arrival.

Fighting to the finish: Glamorous Nicole Scherzinger posed up a storm beside her boy Matt Terry, who will be competing for a contract with Syco Music during Saturday's final