X Factor bosses want the four remaining members of Boyzone to appear on the show in tribute to the late Stephen Gately, it's been reported.

Gately, a huge fan of the TV show, was found dead in his apartment in Majorca earlier this month.

According to the Daily Mirror, producers want to honour the singer with a tribute that will include Gately's former bandmates.

But they are said to be unsure about approaching the group and manager Louis Walsh – who is also a judge on the programme – so soon after his death.

"Everyone is painfully aware they need to be sensitive at this time so they have held back on making a formal approach until they have spoken to Louis," a source said.

"But the huge outpouring of grief from Stephen's fans is hard to ignore. There have been a lot of messages asking them to do some kind of tribute to his life - an X Factor tribute would be the perfect place."

The source added: “Ultimately it would be up to the boys to decide whether they would be able to hold it together."  

Boyzone made a special guest appearance on The X Factor last year and singer Ronan Keating has also already featured on the current series.

Meanwhile, Walsh is expected to return to the programme this weekend following two weeks off to mourn Gately's death.