Simon Cowell was forced to leave his sickbed to halt a fight between Piers Morgan and Louis Walsh on 'Britain's Got Talent'.

The music mogul - who was struck down with flu last week and was temporary replaced on the judging panel by his 'X Factor' co-star Louis - decided he needed to make a swift return to the ITV show as the clash between the two men was getting too much.

A source told the Daily Star newspaper: "He decided enough was enough. Putting Louis and Piers together was like putting Peter Andre and Alex Reid in the ring. It was World War Three."

Louis and Piers - who has sat with Simon and fellow judge Amanda Holden on the panel for the past three series of 'Britain's Got Talent' - clashed almost immediately after the Irishman claimed former newspaper editor Piers was not qualified for the job.

He said: "Piers is just a poor man's Cowell. He is desperate to be like him. He even tries to act like him. How can he be a judge? He is a journalist. He knows nothing about music."

But Piers hit backing, saying: "Louis is a poor man's Jason Gardiner and that's about as bad a place you can find yourself in the talent judging business. He is a giggling, fawning leprechaun whose critiques carry the weight of a 2oz gherkin. It's like having a grandpa on the panel."

The new series of 'Britain's Got Talent' returns to TV screens in late spring.