November 30, 2009 14:30

Pete Waterman: 'Cheating has taken over on 'The X Factor'!'

Former 'Pop Idol' judge lashes out against show

Photo: PA Photos

Pete Waterman has lashed out against 'The X Factor', saying how he turned down the offer of being a judge on the show - and also claimed that "cheating" was involved in its production.

The former 'Pop Idol' reality TV judge said to NME.COM that rather than the shows he was involved in, 'The X Factor' does not focus on music, simply the blind pursuit of fame.

When asked if he was annoyed that he was not a judge on the current series of the show he said: "No! No, because I was offered it and turned it down. People see these talent shows as 'the way to do it'. But they're not."

Elaborating, he added: "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."

When it was suggested that it was hypocritical for someone who was involved in reality music shows to criticise, Waterman was quick to defend himself. "I'm still a cheerleader [for reality music shows] but what you've got now is not the show I was on ['Pop Idol'], which was why I walked off series two," he said.

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

For the full interview with Waterman see the new issue of NME, out now.

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