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The 'Heart On My Sleeve' singer, who will co-host spinoff show The Xtra Factor with Caroline Flack, praised the Take That star for being brutally honest in his assessment of hopefuls.
"Gary is being a meanie," he told The Sun's Buzz Magazine. "He's honest and to the point. He's not going to lie."
Murs also expressed his satisfaction with the refreshed X Factor panel, which features Barlow, N-Dubz star Tulisa Contostavlos, Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland and show veteran Louis Walsh.
"What's so interesting this series is that we have a judging panel that feels much more current," he gushed.
Flack previously claimed to have been "shocked" by Barlow's "brutal" judging style.
Barlow has reportedly been told to tone down his comments to X Factor contestants after allegedly garnering boos from audition audiences.
