At its peak The X Factor was no doubt a reality TV juggernaught, enthralling millions of viewers with its annual battle to find the nation’s next big popstar.
Created by Simon Cowell in 2004, the show helped to launch the careers of some of the UK’s biggest stars, including Little Mix, One Direction and Alexanra Burke.
But behind closed doors, the ITV show was far from a rosy experience for many of its contestants, with some claiming that bosses convinced them to fake certain moments in a bid to boost ratings.
While the series pulled in a record 18 million viewers at its peak, in later years it came under fire for manufacturing results and storylines, and was quietly placed on hiatus in 2018.
So, as a new BBC podcast, Offstage: Inside The X Factor, offers a brand new look at the divisive talent show, MailOnline takes a look at what really went on when the judges left the stage…
What REALLY happened behind the scenes of The X Factor: As a new BBC podcast shines a light on the iconic show, MailOnline takes a look at what went on when the judges left the stage
While many reality shows are known to elevate certain exchanges in a bid to boost drama, contestant Lauren Conway has claimed that she was told to produce fake tears by bosses
‘Fake tears’
While many reality shows are known to elevate certain exchanges in a bid to boost drama, contestant Lauren Conway has claimed that she was told to produce fake tears by bosses.
The Irish singer applied for the show with her sisters when she was just 17, and finished in sixth place in 2005.
Looking back on her time on the show, Lauren admitted she doesn’t view the time fondly, claiming she was told to ‘smudge’ her mascara to imply she had been crying during a scene filmed at the house where she and the other finalists lived.
She told the BBC podcast: ‘The producers made me put water on my eyes and smudge my mascara. They were asking me to hug one of the girls and film through the door and make it look like I was crying.
‘But that was a total setup. I wasn’t crying at the time.’
Secret codes
While the auditions were an X Factor staple throughout its run, one unnamed crew member claimed producers had secret code names for contestants
The codes included E for ‘entertaining’, and PKO for ‘potential kick-off,’ with the latter used for hopefuls producers thought may ‘fight back’ in their audition (Ablisa are pictured in 2010)
The X Factor auditions were a show staple throughout its run, with viewers watching as thousands queued up for a chance to show off their talent to the judges.
However, the auditions viewers saw were just a tiny fraction of the process contestants went through, with some being vetted by several rounds of meeting with producers and researchers before getting a chance to see the judges.
One unnamed staff member claimed that contestants were given secret code names to decipher what kind of drama they could bring to the show, regardless of their talent.
The codes included E for ‘entertaining’, and PKO for ‘potential kick-off.’
‘PKOs’ were those who might fight back, yell or drop a mic in annoyance,’ the staff member added.
‘I mean, we all remember the time where the girl punched her best friend. Any sense of that? You put them straight through.’
Brutal put-downs
Especially in the earlier years, Simon Cowell was branded ‘Mr Nasty’ thanks to his savage critiques of contestants, which left some in tears
One of The X Factor’s biggest draws was its judging panel, with Simon at the helm alongside names including Louis Walsh, Sharon Osbourne, Cheryl and Danni Minogue.
Especially in the earlier years, Simon was branded ‘Mr Nasty’ thanks to his savage critiques of contestants, which left some in tears.
Sarah Lowe applied for the show in 2005 when she was just 19, and after having her hopes boosted by producers, was given three nos by the judges.
She then claimed that a producer suggested her family go into the audition room and beg the judges to give her another chance, with her sister and fiancé even dropping to their knees.
One unnamed runner told the podcast: ‘There was one guy who was clearly mentally vulnerable. I still remember his face – he was so excited. And my heart sort of broke for him because I felt like, ”Oh you’re being used.”’
Fremantle – the production company behind the X Factor – told the BBC it implemented training for staff on awareness and recognition of mental health issues, and denied putting vulnerable contestants through auditions for entertainment.
Gruelling rehearsals
While competing on the live shows, contestants endured hours of gruelling rehearsals, with one claiming they broke down in tears in the shower due to the exhaustion
After landing a spot in the live shows, the contestants typically move into a huge mansion in London, and it’s then that the hard work really begins.
As well as battling for their place in the competition each week, they endure hours of gruelling rehearsals, interviews and public appearances.
Bradley Hunt, who competed in 2016 as one half of the duo, Bratavio, admitted that he broke in tears in the shower one day due to the exhaustion from his gruelling schedule.
He went onto claim that when he was eliminated, he ‘fell asleep’ at a train station after going hours without sleep.
After Bradley Hunt and his singing partner were eliminated in 2016, they did a round of interviews, and then he says they were put in a car.
‘Not even the researchers said bye or anything. I was so exhausted and so tired that I fell asleep in Marylebone Station on the floor.’
Lack of aftercare
While winning The X Factor has kickstarted the careers for many big names, for those who don’t win the recording contract, it’s a bumpy road back to normality.
Many former contestants criticised the lack of aftercare and support provided by bosses after being eliminated, with some struggling with the humiliation of returning to their former jobs.
Sophie Wardman, who was part of the band Belle Amie in 2010, admitted it wasn’t long before she was back to work in her home town of Scarborough.
‘I’ve just been on the biggest TV show in the country and I can’t pay my rent,’ she recalled.
Laura Conway added that she ‘100%’ regretted taking part in the show, and said it ‘personally set her back many years.’
Fremantle told the BBC that there was no time limit on aftercare once the show had aired, and in recent years, ITV have introduced stronger duty of care protocols for reality TV contestants.
Contestants’ ordeals
In recent years, former contestant Rebecca Ferguson has also hit out at ITV bosses, claiming that while she was on the show she saw ‘things I didn’t like and tried to say something’
![Katie Waissel, who appeared on The X Factor in 2010, claimed she was left feeling 'suicidal' after her time on the show and is still receiving Post Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD] therapy](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/01/30/10/80624819-13022535-Katie_Waissel_who_appeared_on_The_X_Factor_in_2010_claimed_she_w-m-97_1706609715585.jpg "The Truth Behind The X Factor: Forced to 'Fake Cry' and Left in Tears from Exhaustion - What REALLY Happened Behind the Scenes 15")
Katie Waissel, who appeared on The X Factor in 2010, claimed she was left feeling ‘suicidal’ after her time on the show and is still receiving Post Traumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD] therapy
In recent years, former contestant Rebecca Ferguson has also hit out at ITV bosses, claiming in a Twitter Live Space last year that while she was on the show she saw ‘things I didn’t like and tried to say something’.
She added that due to her young age she was ‘not able to understand the business world and those types of contracts’, before hitting out at the lack of support from the show.
She said: ‘But why was I expected to deal with that? Things should have been in place to make sure I wasn’t being exploited.
‘I was just trying to make it out of poverty. You need to ask why are people doing this to people on these shows.
‘It’s often working class people taking part it’s always a troubled background. They are hand picked because they are manipulated and moulded.
‘What I would say is put pressure on ITV because there needs to be an investigation if there is nothing to hide then do an investigation because it won’t cost them if there is nothing to hide.’
In a statement ITV said it has since introduced guidance for show producers about how they should treat participants.
‘ITV is committed to having in place suitable processes to protect the mental health and welfare of programme participants,’ it said.
‘We have continued to evolve and strengthen our approach, and we expect all producers of commissioned programmes to have in place appropriate procedures to look after the mental health of programme participants as well as their physical safety.
‘Those processes and procedures will differ from programme to programme, to ensure that the welfare of all participants in ITV programmes is appropriately safeguarded.
