Louis Walsh: Mary Byrne seriously at risk this week

Louis Walsh has revealed that he fears that this is the week in which Tesco cashier Mary Byrne could be booted off the X Factor.

Forget the bailout. Forget that North and South Korea are on the brink of war. The mouthy Mayo man has much more serious concerns: this could be the week that Dublin single mum Mary Byrne could be sent packing.

Mary, 51, has had laryngitis this week and had to miss two days of rehearsals. She will be singing two songs on Saturday's show, which has the theme 'Rock Week' - one by the Pretenders and U2's All I Want Is You which, according to reports, she will dedicate to an ex-lover.

"Mary hasn’t been well this week and she’s in trouble with this week’s rock theme anyway because it’s not suiting her voice," Louis says.

"TV3 not putting her voting lines up on the screen in Ireland could leave her in the final two, and I know both Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole will vote Mary off if it comes to an elimination."