Cowell defends 'X Factor' tour wages

Simon Cowell has rubbished suggestions that the X Factor finalists are "ripped off" on the show's live stadium tour.

A report recently claimed that acts like Daniel Evans, Eoghan Quigg and Laura White can expect to receive just £250 per show, while a gig at London's O2 Arena rakes in around £600,000 in ticket sales alone.

However, speaking in an interview with the Daily Mail, Cowell has insisted that the figures quoted are not accurate and that no contestant has ever disputed the true amount.

"It is not slave labour. I won't go into precise figures because that is confidential, but these people will earn around about £50,000 each on the X Factor tour," Cowell told the newspaper.

"For any kid who wants to get into the music business and who hasn't got a recording contract - well, it is a good deal. To put them in front of 16 million television viewers over a period of time and then pay them £50,000 for three months' work? That is not a bad deal."

The music mogul also insisted that the Britain's Got Talent winners are treated fairly, explaining: "Paul Potts was working as a mobile phone salesman on eight or nine grand a year, and has now, I am guessing, made in the region of £3 million to £4 million. He sold three million albums in the first year.

"As for George Sampson, I am estimating his earnings will hit at least £250,000 to £300,000 in the first year."