Sharon: Simon has been nasty to Louis

Sharon Osbourne today spoke out for the first time about the sensational sacking of fellow judge Louis Walsh from The X Factor.

She said it had upset her, and that she felt Walsh had been "a bit hard done by", but added: "He's fine. He has bounced back better than anyone could have predicted he would."

Walsh was shocked to be axed from the next series of the hit ITV show, saying he had been "stabbed in the back" by his boss Simon Cowell.

Sharon, drinking with friends including Barbara Windsor and Gordon Ramsay at Ronnie Scott's last night, claimed her relationship with Westlife manager Walsh, 52, is intact. "Of course I'm upset, Louis is my best friend and I speak to him nearly every day," said Sharon, 54, married to Ozzy Osbourne.

The show's presenter, Kate Thornton, was also a victim of the cull last week. But Cowell denied having anything to do with the action, claiming ITV bosses were behind it.

Speculation is mounting over who will take over the X Factor jobs. Walsh told DJ Chris Moyles he would be the perfect replacement.

Music promoter David Gest has also been mentioned and Blue

Peter's Konnie Huq has been slated as a possible replacement for Thornton. The new show will have four judges, including Cowell and Sharon, instead of the usual three.