David Gray: 'X Factor is meaningless tripe'

David Gray has criticised The X Factor, calling it "meaningless tripe".

The singer, who sold over 7 million copies of his album White Ladder, admitted that he doesn't like the show because it is designed purely to entertain the masses.

After being asked for his opinion on Jedward, he told The Observer: "I wasn't even going to dignify that with a response. It's just meaningless tripe that's entertaining everyone royally."

Speaking of the mainstream music industry, he added: "It's hostile terrain. I couldn't tell you a song that's been in the charts recently. Apart from 'Empire State of Mind', which my children play relentlessly.

"I'm sort of seen as a pop artist. I'm dismissed as slight, I'd say, because of White Ladder."

On the subject of finding fame, he said: "[It was] a bit overwhelming. Fame is not something you can do a course on at City Lit and, yes, for a moment, it was all a bit too much for me. I realised instantly that I like my privacy."