THE roles were reversed when Basingstoke boy band Concept were given the task of judging their former X Factor mentor Louis Walsh on national television.

Concept – who were rejected by Louis at the Judges’ Houses stage – were invited to appear on Celebrity Juice, an ITV2 comedy show hosted by Keith Lemon, last Thursday, and were given the job of deciding whether Louis has the ‘normal factor’.

Louis was challenged by Keith to work in a burger hut to see if he is still a normal person, despite his celebrity status, and Concept were invited on the show to judge his burger making skills.

Louis shouted ‘no’ as Keith welcomed Concept, all 20-years-old, to the studio, saying: “You shattered their dreams.”

But Louis justified booting the band out of the competition, and said: “I told them to come back next year.”

Keith asked Concept, made up of former Queen Mary’s College students Karim Newton, Ben Selley, Matt Goodenough, Scott Dicks and Nathan Gittens, if they wished Louis dead after he rejected them, to which Karim jokingly replied: “We didn’t wish he was dead – just maybe break a leg or two.”

Launching the competition, Keith said: “You didn’t think Concept had the X Factor, but let’s see if they think you have the normal factor.”

Louis then took orders, but had chips, burgers and milkshake falling on his head in comedy style, much to the amusement of the audience.

Asked whether Louis has the normal factor, Karim said: “Well, we thought that instead of telling him here, we could fly him out to a luxury location, put him up in nice accommodation, then crush his dreams and tell him he doesn’t have the normal factor.”

Speaking after the show, Karim said: “Everyone enjoyed what we said and it was quite funny. It was good to have a bit of a laugh with Louis.”

Louis was seen chatting to Concept at the end of the show – and Matt revealed what the judge had said to them. “He was just asking how we were and checking what we have been doing since the show. He seemed to care. He’s a very nice guy.”

Scott added: “He said he was gutted that he had to let us go, but he had to send three acts home. He said he would love us to go back next year.”

Concept watched the first live show of The X Factor at the weekend – during which two of Louis’ groups were voted out in a double elimination.

Asked who they think could win the show, the band believe Andrea Faustini or Lauren Platt are the front runners.