The X-Factor boy-band Stereo Kicks say they are "glad to be away" from their mentor Louis Walsh. The eight-piece group finished fifth on the ITV talent show and Walsh suggested they needed to cull members.

Stereo KicksStereo Kicks singer Tom Mann said the group are glad to be away from Louis Walsh

"We had a bumpy ride because everyone was like, 'Are there too many, are there too many? Obviously Louis didn't exactly help the situation by suggesting that a couple of us should be kicked out of the band," singer Tom Mann told The Sun.

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Describing Walsh as "lovely," Mann explained the group were enjoying working independently from the Irish music manager.

"I'd by lying if I said I wish we were still with Louis. If I'm honest then I'd say we're glad to be away from him."

The band's release their debut single 'Love Me So' on 21 June 2015.

Walsh recently revealed on Irish programme Seven O'Clock Show that he is "done with X-Factor" and mentor Sinitta has tipped One Direction singer Louis Tomlinson as the next judge.

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"He spent a lot of time with us last year, mentoring the talent and watching rehearsals. I could definitely see him going into music management and production so it's a good place to start," she told the Daily Mail.

"If Louis (Walsh) goes that's definitely going to shake things up because he's the only one who's always been there," she continued.

The new season of X-Factor will be presented by Caroline Flack after Dermot O'Leary announced he was leaving the show after eight years. Speculation suggests O'Leary could be courted as a contestant on the next series of Strictly Come Dancing.