noel gallagherNoel Gallagher has accused The X Factor and other talent shows like Britain’s Got Talent of causing “instant mental illness” in their winners because of the shock of momentary life in the limelight.

The Oasis star told the Radio Times recently that The X Factor “has absolutely nothing to do with music and everything to do with television”: “If somebody is dangling fame in front of a check-out girl from Barnsley they’re going to go for it because they live in a s**thole.

“You’re in with a No1 and you’ve got Dannii Minogue telling you you’re really talented - and if there’s one person who wouldn’t know talent if it kicked them, it’s Dannii Minogue.

“You spend a year slogging round, then what?

“Instead of instant fame the prize ought to be, ‘I’ll introduce you to someone who might, if you’re lucky, know a producer who’d record one of your songs.’”

The X Factor’s first winner Steve Brookstein’s first album, released just months after his win, reached No1 in the album charts and sold 250,000 copies. His second album only reached No 165 in the charts and sold around 7,000 after he was dropped from record label Sony BMG. The second series winner Shayne Ward’s initial success has waned slightly since his debut in 2005 but he is currently recording his third album after completing a UK & Ireland, and Asian, tour. 2006’s winner Leona Lewis‘ success is continuing to grow on both sides of the Atlantic while last year’s winner Leon Jackson is set to release his debut album next week.

  • Do you agree with Noel - is it too much, too soon? Have your say in the comments section below.