'X Factor' bosses snubbed Bon Jovi

Former X Factor contestant Ben Mills has revealed that the show's producers turned down the chance to have Bon Jovi as guests on the programme three years ago.

The New Jersey rock group appeared on the current series as part of the contest's first ever Rock Week. However, according to Mills, it was not the first time that the band had been suggested as guests.

Mills said that Mark Hudson, Sharon Osbourne's co-mentor on the show, had offered to get the group to perform in 2006.

"When I was on X Factor, Mark Hudson, who is great friends with Bon Jovi, offered the producers the chance to have them on," the singer told DS.

"The band were in London, the producers needed an act, he said, 'Bon Jovi will do it'. And they turned him down! They turned him down because they thought it would be too rock-y. Now three years later they are on."

He added: "It's become a lot more credible to get on The X Factor now and I think because of that we might see some more rock acts coming out. Basically, because the music industry appears to be following whatever happens on the show."

Mills, who finished third behind Leona Lewis and Ray Quinn, is currently working on the follow-up to his 2007 debut Picture Of You.

> Click here to watch Ben Mills perform for DS