Max Clifford: 'X Factor gives a launch'

Max Clifford has denied suggestions that The X Factor does not look after its contestants properly.

The publicist rejected comments from the Equity union, which described the programme as "cheap exploitation" and called for the payment of participants in its latter stages, Metro reports.

Clifford said: "These are people desperate to be famous. You don't go into this with your eyes closed. It gives them the most incredible launch and then it's up to them.

"Most of the people I've spoken to - ordinary viewers - can't wait for it to come back. We'll just have to see the acts that are on this year - the good the bad and the ugly."

Producers of the show have promised that psychologists will be on hand throughout the whole of this year's competition, rather than only being available on call.