X Factor ‘tried to exploit shamed Tory’s girl’
ITV has been criticised for opening up The X Factor to contestants as young as 14 even though its own judges admit the format can ‘verge on barbaric’.
A leading psychologist said the show, which returns tonight, is ‘recklessly putting children’s health at risk’ by exposing them to public criticism and potential humiliation.
At the same time singer Cheryl FernandezVersini, who is returning to the judging panel after three years, said she has had to spare younger contestants from elimination on the latest series to protect them from the talent show’s cut-throat format.
On tonight’s show the 31-year- old, formerly known as Cheryl Cole, is shown bursting into tears after listening to contestant Amy Connelly, 25, whom she first mentored on a series six years ago.
Even host Dermot O’Leary said he had reservations about Simon Cowell’s decision to allow under-16s to participate again – the last time was in 2008, when a 14-year- old Liam Payne was sent home only to return two years later to form One Direction.
X Factor bosses say the welfare of their youngest contestants is their ‘number one priority’ and they have ‘stringent procedures’ to protect them.
But psychologist Melanie Gill, who has advised the Government on child welfare, said it is impossible to know which children may be harmed by performing in front of millions of viewers.
She said: ‘It is awful that The X Factor is willing to risk the welfare of such vulnerable young people by lowering the age limit again.
‘They say they are looked after, but the reality is that their brains are not fully developed.
‘The children may look fine, but their broad grins are fake and are put on for the adults. You can’t tell what is going on inside and they don’t have the emotional strength to cope with some of the stresses a show like this brings.
‘Very often, the youngest contestants are pressured by pushy parents to compete.
‘Being humiliated in front of a mass audience and having their dreams shattered could put them at risk of depression in later life’.
Mrs Fernandez-Versini admitted she was so concerned about the welfare of younger contestants that she saved them from elimina- tion during the ‘six- chair challenge’, in which judges swap contestants around before deciding who will join their teams.
She said: ‘I hate saying no. It’s a horrible feeling telling someone that they can’t go through.
‘It’s human nature but the six chair challenge was, for me, verging on barbaric. I had a girl in my category who was 15. And if we sat her in the chair we never took
‘Verging on
barbaric’
her out of the chair. If they were under the age limit of 16 they never got removed from a chair.’
O’Leary, 41, said he was also worried about younger contestants.
‘I had reservations about it,’ he said. ‘But you can have a more mature 14-year-old walk through the door and do an audition and have the wherewithal that you’d expect a 17-year-old to have.’
Cowell, 54, said: ‘We’re very cautious that when you’ve got some- one that age that they’re not pushed into it by their parents and they’re mentally up for it and talented enough. If we don’t think they are, you won’t see it on camera but many times we’ll say to them come back in a year, two years.’
Cowell has previously been criticised for allowing children to take part in his other ITV talent show, Britain’s Got Talent. Last year it came under fire for featuring a five-year-old dancer. In 2009, hundreds complained when two child singers cried because of the pressure of performing live.
An X Factor spokesman said: ‘ Young contestants must be accompanied by a parent or guardian as part of their audition.
‘For all auditions a psychologist is on hand as well as registered chaperones who are there to monitor the young contestants’ welfare.
‘Should any of the contestants progress in the competition we make sure that they are properly supported throughout to be able to deal with the process.’