Debbie Harry: 'Talent shows too controlling'

Debbie Harry has claimed that singers who come from reality TV programmes are "too controlled".

The Blondie star praised shows such as The X Factor and American Idol for giving artists such as Leona Lewis and JLS their big break, but said that she would not have liked to have been under the same level of control.

"In those talent shows, they get a break and are given exposure, which is wonderful," she told Sky News. "But the artistry is too controlled. Maybe they don't want to explore more about themselves, maybe they're happy with that, but I don't think that I would have liked to be so controlled."

She added: "Everything controlled and ordered isn't necessarily good for producing interesting music."

On the other hand, the 65-year-old praised Lady GaGa for being inventive, commenting: "She's exciting and greatly talented. She's got a great team around her doing exciting images - it's very smart."

The singer releases her next single 'Mother' - taken from new album Panic of Girls - on May 23.

> Debbie Harry: 'I was a drug addict'