Brookstein hits out at Cowell control

Steve Brookstein has said that his life became difficult when he tried to resist the control of Simon Cowell after winning The X Factor.

The singer claimed first place on the programme in 2004, but judge Cowell later said that "the wrong act had won" the show.

Brookstein told The Times: "Simon kept saying, 'I know what I'm doing', by which he meant, 'I know what sells'.

"But it sounded like karaoke to me. I was offered £12,500 to go away quietly, and when I didn't take it, life got very difficult."

He added: "My website came down, there was a lot of negative publicity. I was basically shunned by the industry.

"No serious management would touch me because they've all got connections with Simon."

Brookstein recently criticised Cowell's treatment of 2007 winner Leon Jackson and has also likened The X Factor to "bear-baiting".