Louis Walsh Steps Down From Reality TV Following 'Shock Heart Attack' Reveal

Irish music industry icon Louis Walsh has called time on his reality TV career, revealing that his health is no longer 'good enough' to face the cameras full-time. The 74-year-old former Boyzone and Westlife manager shared the bombshell news that his 2024 stint on Celebrity Big Brother was far more dangerous than viewers ever saw, according to Extra.ie.

Speaking on The 2 Johnnies Podcast and in an interview with Heat magazine, the Mayo man admitted his doctor believes he suffered a 'minor heart attack' while inside the Big Brother house. Louis confessed that he suffered from severe anxiety during the show and had to be seen by medics multiple times. 'I thought it was going to be fun, but it wasn’t,' he revealed, admitting he only took the job for the paycheck.

The health revelation has led the star to rule out any future appearances on gruelling shows like I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, as well as a return to the judging panel for any potential X Factor reboot. According to the Irish Mirror, Louis conceded that he is 'probably too old' for a third stint on Simon Cowell's flagship talent show and plans to focus on his wellbeing instead.

The heart scare comes after a difficult few years for the mogul, who previously battled a rare form of blood cancer called Waldenström macroglobulinemia. While he is currently in remission and 'feeling good,' the combination of his previous illness and the recent cardiac scare has prompted a major rethink of his work-life balance. According to the Irish Independent, Louis now regrets the 'mistake' of doing Celebrity Big Brother and is prioritising his health over the high-stress world of reality competition.