Waterman attacks 'cheating X Factor'

Pete Waterman has said that "cheating" has taken over The X Factor.

The music producer, who was critical of the Pop Idol second series winner Michelle McManus, told NME that music was irrelevant to its successor.

Waterman said: "I was offered it and turned it down. People see these talent shows as 'The way to do it'. But they're not.

"Don't get fooled by The X Factor. The fundamental question is this: What do you know about music? Are you in this for music or fame? And the musical genre - pop, rock, whatever - is irrelevant here."

He added: "I'm still a cheerleader [for reality music shows] but what you've got now is not the show I was on, which was why I walked off series two.

"The cheating has taken over! It's irrelevant that there's even music on these shows."

Waterman recently claimed The X Factor was in fact "the Simon Cowell show".