Tony Cowell tells Closer exclusively why his CBB pal isn’t catty in real life and why he’ll always be close to brother Simon
Since the very first episode of Celebrity Big Brother, Louis Walsh has been making headlines for his non-filtered opinion on other celebs.
Along with his best friend Sharon Osbourne, who appeared on the show for six days as a “celebrity lodger”, we’ve seen Louis spill the beans on stars including Ronan Keating, Jedward, Simon Cowell and James Cordon. And it’s not all been complimentary!
But Tony Cowell, Simon’s brother and Louis’ good friend, tells us that he really isn’t as bitchy as he might seem. “He may come across as catty and bad tempered, but Louis is one of the funniest, quick-witted people I know,” Tony tells us.
“One look at his face on the first night entering the house told me everything. He just didn’t know what to do –he told me he’d never watched the show. But once he was reunited with his best pal Sharon, we began to see the real Louis.
“The thing about Louis is that he says the first thing that comes into his head –he just can’t help himself. Often, he is spot on with his remarks. Other times, he’s merely shadowing Sharon. They are like an outrageous married couple.
“The real Louis also has a big heart. Two years ago, when I had a cancer scare, it was Louis who phoned me every single day while I was awaiting test results. He was always positive, always upbeat, constantly telling me I would beat it. He was a true friend, and someone who genuinely cared.”
Tony has known Louis for years after the band manager, now 71, started working with his brother Simon, 64, years before The XFactor was even a thing.
And Tony explains that the close bond will neve
