Osbourne slams 'gutless' Cowell

Sharon Osbourne has dubbed Simon Cowell a "coward" for sacking Louis Walsh from British talent show The X Factor, and then blaming the decision on show producers.

Walsh sat on the judging panel with Osbourne and Cowell - whose company makes the show - until he and host Kate Thornton were axed earlier this month.

Cowell claims he fought to save their jobs, but that producers overruled him.

However, Osbourne insists Cowell is responsible - and should have owned up to Walsh and Thornton.

She says: "After knowing Louis for over 20 years, Simon should have had the guts to tell him to his face that he was going to get fired.

"I was completely shocked. It was a harsh and unfair thing to do. The very least he could have done is to have told Louis and Kate rather than pretend it was all down to the producers."