Meera Syal: ''X Factor' is like a freak show'

Meera Syal has revealed that she thinks the X Factor is similar to a Victorian freak show.

The Kumars At No 42 star said that modern reality television encourages people to laugh at the less fortunate in society.

"Laughing at the weirdness and misfortunes of others takes us back to the Victorians and their freak shows," she told What's On TV.

"That's how people used to get their entertainment then. 'Let's go down the loony bin and laugh at them.' It seems to me that a lot of reality TV is like that."

The comedienne also questioned the humour of spoof shows such as Peter Kay's Britain's Got The Pop Factor.

"The problem was that the real show is so absurd and had so many tragic people in it that it's quite difficult to parody it."