Rylan Clark-Neal reckons Simon Cowell needs to make a change to X Factor next year.
The former X Factor contestant, 29, was on today’s This Morning to dish out all the latest showbiz goss – including last night’s X Factor finale.
Boyband Rak-Su triumphed on Sunday evening, beating Grace Davies.
Both acts had performed original songs this year, after a rule change meant acts could perform either covers or their own tracks.
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However, Rylan doesn’t seem to be a fan…
During his showbiz slot, he brought up the tweet sent by his old X Factor pal James Arthur on the issue.
James had said: “Let’s be honest, this is the first year contestants have been allowed to do their own songs.
“Let’s stop saying how brave these guys are, it’s an advantage and respect to them for being able to do it.”
Rylan told Holly and Phil: “It’s true that we weren’t allowed to do our own songs – imagine my album!”
He went on to say he agreed with James’ tweet and thought the show should either make everyone sing covers or everyone do original songs, not mix and match the two.
“And I think James is right,” he said.
“It was a little bit muddy because obviously [other acts] in the competition had been doing covers…
“I think maybe for next year there should be a rule: it’s either this or that for everybody.”
Holly, however, said: “Not everybody can write their own stuff, can they?”
Rylan replied: “But it just goes to show that the two finalists this year were two acts with original songs. Don’t get me wrong, they are very talented, but is that what we want? That originality?”
Phillip then suggested that perhaps, yes, it’s what X Factor and Simon Cowell want, as if they sign someone who is a songwriter, then presumably they get publishing rights to the songs.
Rylan, however, said he couldn’t comment on X Factor contracts.
Meanwhile, Rylan also jumped to the defence of his old X Factor mentor Nicole Scherzinger, after some viewers slammed her enthusiastic behaviour during Little Mix’s performance last night.
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Rylan said: “She’s on a night out! Leave her be! Everyone on Twitter was like, ‘Oh, she’s an embarrassment, let the girls have their moment, you’re making it about you’… she’s having a night out! Leave her!”
This Morning airs weekdays at 10.30am on ITV.