Niki Evans: 'Cowell's acts are lucky'

Former X Factor star Niki Evans has claimed that the show's acts are lucky if they land Simon Cowell as their mentor.

The 36-year-old singer, who was coached by Louis Walsh on the 2007 series, suggested that Cowell's contestants have an advantage because the public listens to him more than the other judges.

Evans told The Sun: "Simon holds the reins on everything. If Simon said the grass is purple everyone would say, 'oh yeah, it's purple'.

"A lot of the show is about the judges and it's about the pantomime. You can be doomed if you don't have the right one."

The former dinner lady also reiterated her belief that contestants may struggle to secure long-term careers after the show ends.

She said: "There's not a lot of work out there. The market is being flooded, not just from X Factor but from Britain's Got Talent. When you're out of The X Factor, you're out on your own. You have to have a talent."

> X Factor session: Niki Evans