'X Factor' contract 'misleads' contestants

The contract signed by X Factor contestants does not guarantee that the winner will receive a £1 million recording contract, reports claim.

A leaked version of the legal document shows that the victor may only receive £1 million after at least four albums. Instead, they will get an advance of £150,000 to pay their expenses for their first LP, reports The Mirror.

"For presenter Dermot O’Leary to say in front of 13 million viewers the winner gets this sort of deal is slightly misleading to say the least," said a source.

The contract, which runs for 80 pages, also reportedly states that the rules are enforceable anywhere "in the world and solar system" and that artists may not be critical of the company, "including its personnel and, in particular, Simon Cowell".

“The contract makes clear no-one can speak badly of X Factor supremo Simon. It is hilarious. He must be ultra-paranoid,” said the insider.

All 12 finalists were required to sign the document, which also claims that the two runners up are bound to Cowell's contract for at least three months.

"After being kicked off, you’re under contract to Cowell’s label even if they’ve no interest in you. Other record labels won’t touch you until the deal is over, and then interest may have waned," one finalist is quoted as saying.

The winning act makes 15% from single and album sales, along with 7.5% of profits from a tour and 15% of merchandise sales.