X Factor: Tulisa and Louis Walsh make up after he called her 'a chav in a tracksuit'

New X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos showed she had no hard feelings for Louis Walsh after he called her a "chav", as they cosied up at the launch of the new series today.

The pair were joined by fellow judge Nicole Scherzinger and show host Dermot O'Leary as they posed in London ahead of the four-month talent search which returns to our screens on Saturday.

In an interview earlier this week, Walsh referred to fellow judge Tulisa as "a chav in a tracksuit".

But arriving at the Corinthia Hotel this morning for the official launch of the ITV1 show, he said his remarks were intended to be light-hearted.

"It was a joke but she is a little bit in a good way. We always have fun, it wasn't meant in a bad way. We're really good friends but I like to tell it like it is," he said.

It comes just days after Louis suggested he might bow out of the show after doing it for ten years, because he does not want to turn into Sir Bruce Forsyth.

Walsh, 60, told the Radio Times: "This is my ninth year and every year I get nervous that Simon will bring someone new in, but I know the show and what works.

"My ambition is to get to 10 years on the show - after that we'll see. I don't want to be like Brucie on Strictly. I will know when it's time to give it up."

He also admitted the show has suffered without acid-tongued former host Simon Cowell.

"The show has suffered without Simon - it's like the Rolling Stones without Mick Jagger," he added.

"But we are doing the best we can, although I miss him being there a lot. We are like Steptoe and Son. He may have a go at me quite a lot, but that is just what he is like. He is the best."

Tulisa arrived at the event wearing a grey and yellow hooped bodycon minidress coupled with silver heels, while Scherzinger chose an elegant cap-sleeved, below-the-knee dress in white with matching stilettos.

Also attending were Sinitta, last year's winners Little Mix and Xtra Factor host Caroline Flack.

Walsh promised viewers they would like the line-up of finalists as he already knew who would be making it through.

"There's all sorts of people this year. I know who the final 12 will be and there's someone for everybody."

He added: "It's not all about the voice on the X Factor - it's also about the personality."