Ex calls X Factor as 'bear baiting'

5:24am Sunday 12th October 2008

A former X Factor winner hit out at the reality television talent show, describing it as a human form of bear baiting.

Steve Brookstein, who won the first series of X Factor in 2004, made his remarks after Bad Lashes became the first contenders to be voted off the new series.

The foursome from the north east left the show on Saturday night after coming bottom of the public vote.

Mr Brookstein told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It is sad that there are going to be people who are going to be publicly humiliated. It is a form of bear-baiting.

"I've been banging the drum about what it's about - people shouldn't call in and they shouldn't waste their money."

In an earlier show, presented by Dermot O'Leary, all 12 finalists sang live in front of the judges and a studio audience.

The results show, 45 minutes after the first show finished, saw Bad Lashes go head-to-head with the other girl group Girlband after both groups picked up the least votes in the public ballot.

They performed one more song in front of the judges and studio audience.

Girlband sang the Dionne Warwick song That's What Friends Are For and Bad Lashes performed the Oasis hit Wonderwall.

The four judges then voted who to reject but the result was a draw with Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh voting for Bad Lashes and Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue for Girlband.

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