Published Thursday, 15 October 2009
There had been speculation about whether the Boyzone manager would be able to make the two programmes as he mourned his close friend.
A statement from the show's producers said on Thursday: "Due to recent tragic events, Louis Walsh will not be appearing on either the Saturday or Sunday live The X Factor shows this weekend as he is attending Stephen Gately's funeral.
"Louis has been in close contact with his acts throughout the week, although his opinions will not be represented in the show this weekend."
Speaking to Sky News, Walsh said it had not sunk in that he would never see Gately again.
Asked about rumours that Gately had been drinking to excess, Walsh said: "He was on holidays in Majorca. Anyone on holidays goes out and has a few drinks.
"I've never seen him drunk in my life. He was always having fun. He looked after himself, he was very health-conscious and he was in a good place."
He added: "He was always happy, always smiling. He lived his life to the best ... he fulfilled his dream, he was the little kid from Dublin who wanted to be a pop star ... He just wanted a better life ... I think he helped me more than I helped him, if I'm honest."
Walsh said no thought had been given so far to the future of Boyzone, whose members were Gately's "best friends".
He said: "I'm talking to them on a regular basis, every few hours."
Asked what was going to happen to the band, he said: "Oh God, we don't know. I don't know.
Asked how he would cope on Saturday, Walsh said: "I think the boys will absolutely get me through it. We started off together. I wouldn't be here today without Boyzone. They got me my first break.
"And we're going to give him the best send-off ever in Dublin on Saturday."