Grease Is The Word Judge, David Gest, has defended himself against claims that he is a control freak.

“I know it’s been written many times that I am, but as anybody who’s on my staff will tell you, or anyone who works at ITV1 will tell you – I do what I’m told,” says Gest.

“Yes, I’m a workaholic. I’ll work 14 or 15 hour days to get a result and I’ll do anything I can to make something work. But I’m also not afraid of sending myself up and making a fool of myself.

“I love doing that and, anyway, if I really was a control freak I wouldn’t have lasted one minute out there in the jungle.”