Louis Walsh has clarified comments he made about fellow X Factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos that claimed she is a "chav in a tracksuit".

As previously reported, Walsh was recently quoted in a magazine interview saying Tulisa was a little "rough round the edges", hinting that she was too big for her boots.

The N-Dubz star retorted by saying that the 60-year-old Irishman was out of touch with today's music industry.

Speaking at yesterday's (August 17) X Factor series nine launch in London, Walsh said that his comments were a "joke" and that they are actually "really good friends". He said:

"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."

Talking about the upcoming series of X Factor, which begins on Saturday (August 18), Walsh said that there will be something for everyone when it reaches its live rounds. He said:

"There's all sorts of people this year. I know who the final 12 will be and there's someone for everybody. It's not all about the voice on the X Factor - it's also about the personality."