Bill Bailey: 'The X Factor is corrosive'

Bill Bailey has said that there is something "corrosive" about reality talent shows like The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent.

The stand-up comedian and musician told DS that the comments he makes about show boss Simon Cowell on his current Dandelion Mind DVD are genuinely felt.

Bailey said: "I think there's something very hollow at the heart of all the talent shows. I think there's something that's corrosive. Generally, it eats away at people's idea of what fame is, what celebrity is, what the rewards for fame should be - the correlation between talent and money and fame.

"It's overheated and overcooked to such an extent that young people - impressionable people - are going to have their views of all these things warped by it."

He added: "I find it's very cynical and very manipulative because [Cowell] owns the record company, he owns the format of the TV show - it's like the house wins any way you look at it.

"Some of these kids can sing, and yet they're being put through this mill like that's the gold standard of how to progress in your musical career and it shouldn't be that.

"The X Factor shouldn't be the way that you get famous. You should be able to play in venues around the country, find your own style and carve out your own identity - then you get more of a sense of self-worth."

> Click here to read our full interview with Bill Bailey