Former X Factor semi finalist Ben Mills has given a very revealing interview to The Times today, in which he talks about the amount of staging and faking he experience during the 2006 series of the show.

Ben described his time on the ITV talent show as:

“completely surreal. Sharon [Osbourne, then a judge] wanted me to stage a walkout one week to generate a huge tabloid story and get me votes. When I refused, she didn’t speak to me again.”

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Former X Factor finalist, Ben Mills has revealed that he has turned down the chance to appear on this years X Factor show.

Ben said: “I’m still in touch with people who work on X Factor. They have been in touch and said do you wanna come on and do some stuff. But to be totally honest I’m really trying to sidestep anything to do with the X Factor now because I don’t think it’s going to do me any favours. Read more & comment »

Ben Mills has spoken to BANG Showbiz this week and revealed that he never felt as if he fitted into the X factor.

He stated: “I was a bit of a thorn amongst roses. I was the guy that didn’t really fit the show. I didn’t feel like I fitted in because it is a pop show at the end of the day.

“Ray and Leona are the faces of the ‘X factor’. They’re promoting the tour themselves now.

“Ray does a lot of TV to promote it. That suits me. I loved being on the show but it wasn’t really for me.”

He continued:

“I feel I gave it a breath of fresh air and maybe brought some different viewers in.

“I felt welcome because Simon was always raving about how much he loved my voice.

“Now I have to prove myself as a musician.”

I know Ben Mills needs to step up his album sales. But honestly…is threatening to strip nude the best way to go about it?

After the barrage of “tell all” stories last week and now this latest sensational article, I am beginning to lose any hope that Ben may become one of the few X Factor success stories.

Ben Mills has commented that he is glad to have lost the X Factor, he believes it will be a blessing in disguise.

Ben told BANG Showbiz: “The losers always do better on these shows, I think. I feel like I’ve got the advantage. If I’d won I would never have been allowed to put five of my own tracks on my album, or release it so soon.

“As a singer songwriter to have won the ‘X factor’ would have been quite weird. I’ve got the same management as Lemar, who lost ‘Fame Academy’, and he’s done very well as a loser.”

Ben realised he had no chance of winning when he heard the winners single, A Moment Like This, originally sang by Kelly Clarkson. Read more & comment »

Apparently HMV and Woolworth’s have reported that the first days sales figures for Ray Quinns swing album are much more impressive than Ben Mills rock based album.

It is thought that in some stores Ray’s album is outselling bens at a rate of 2 to 1. However Wooloworths were quick to add that Ben’s album was selling very well and would achieve a good position this Sunday, its just unlikely to be the number one spot. Looks like Simon Cowell’s magic has worked once again!

Ben Mills and Ray Quinn are struggling to be civil to one another on the X Factor tour as they gear up for their big battle of the charts this month.

A source told The Sun: “They hardly even grunt at each other – and Ben keeps making snide digs at Ray. He has been sulking like a child and you feel like telling him to get a grip. It’s getting unbearable.”

Lucky they aren’t singing alone together on tour then isn’t it!

It appears that we will be having a battle of the X in March this year, as both X factor finalists, Ray Quinn and Ben Mills, gear up to release their debut album.

Both lads have signed with Sony BMG and the company obviously believes that a chart battle will help both boys sell more records.

Ray is recording his album in Los Angeles. Benis in West London’s Olympic Studios, made famous by THE ROLLING STONES, recording new material.

A source said: “Ben is excited about getting a deal and is thrilled to be recording in Olympic Studios. He can’t quite believe it.

“He has been working hard writing songs since the show finished and some of them will be on the album. He’s so thrilled he’s even agreed to chop his hair off!�

No Ben! Don’t do it!

Ben Mills has spoken yesterday to the Sunday People about his views on the final two X factor contestants:

ON LEONA

IT’S been clear all along that Leona is the true star of the show.

She’s got everything, the whole package – an amazing voice and stunning, superstar looks.

She’s going to be a big star wherever she chooses to go, be it here in the UK or over in the United States.

Leona is really emotional when she sings but she also knows how to look like the complete professional up on stage.

She has much more mainstream appeal than me and, to be honest, I was just amazed to have got as far as I did.

& ON RAY

I’VE become great friends with Ray during X Factor and we really bonded over the last weeks.

You can’t help but be impressed with his vocal talents. He knows how to really master a song and deserved to reach the final.

It great that somebody with Ray’s personality has come through the ranks and been such a hit with viewers.

He’s a terrific guy who has got his feet firmly on the ground.

He’s not the sort of bloke to let fame go to his head either.

It won’t change him one bit as winner or runner-up.

X Factor semi-finalist, Ben Mills, has vowed that he will keep on rocking, it just won’t be on the X Factor stage anymore. He revealed that he had never expected to get so far in the competition saying:

“The show isn’t directed to people like me, like rockers. It’s a pop competition. I expected to get a little bit of exposure and carry on with my band but as it happened I got through to the semi-final.”

People have speculated that both Ray and Leona may have picked up sympathy votes due to their tears on stage, ben joked that if he had shed a tear he may be still in the competition.

He added: “When I cry, I really cry. I can’t have a couple of tears and walk away. If I cry, that’s me gone, on the floor, tissues everywhere.”

In an exclusive interview with The Sun today Ben Mills has opened up about his past drug habit, how he feels to have left the X Factor 2006 and how he disappeared for 2 days when he found out about the winners single.

Bens departure from the X factor marks the end of his drug free year. Speaking about his addiction Ben said:

He said: “The last time I did drugs, I woke up after a five-day bender.

“I was outside most of the time, lying on the beach, I was in a really bad state.

He said: “I took myself to see a counsellor. She was brilliant. She really could see I didn’t want to do it anymore but because of my circle of friends I found it hard to turn them down, so I just stopped going out.�

Ben also wished the remaining X Factor contestants Ray and Leona luck in the final:

He said: “Obviously I would have loved to have made it but this show is made for Leona and Ray. It’s their type of music, their type of glossy performance. They’re both stage school kids and a part of me feels like I couldn’t compete against that.

“Leona’s squeaky clean and Ray’s got all the mums and teenage girls’ votes.�

“But I wish them all the best — they are both hugely talented.�

Ben also revealed how he went missing for two days after hearing that the winners single would be a Kelly Clarkson track:

He said: “When I first heard the song, I just thought, ‘There is no way I can sing this — this is not me at all’.

“It was way more suited to Leona than me. I called up Sharon and went over to hers to play it. She agreed that it wasn’t for me and phoned Simon.

“But I have to admit that it all got too much for me, I thought there’s no way I could win. And if I’m honest, I thought a song like that could ruin my credibility. So I got in a taxi and I went home to my mum.�

He spent two days at home in Whitstable, Kent, with his mobile phone switched off — leaving show bosses panicking.

Ben said: “When I turned it back on, I have to say I had some of the angriest messages I’ve ever heard from the producers — ranting and all sorts. Simon then rang me and I couldn’t believe it.

“He told me I was getting a totally different arrangement. And I felt like such an idiot because when I returned I went into the studio and record producer Steve said, ‘I want it to sound like Aerosmith’.

“And in the end, my version sounded wicked, nothing like the original single so all my moaning was for nothing. It’s just a pity that no one’s ever going to get to hear it.�

I can’t believe how devastated I am that Ben was kicked off last night. Admittedly, I don’t feel it was his best performances – but he was still 3000 times better than the gurning Scouser. (Is Ray lining up toothpaste sponsorship? Or perhaps tissue sponsorship after his murdering of You’ll Never Walk Alone.. I’m not surprised he cried, I was too.. nothing to do with any ‘emotion’ he showed in the song, more that a travesty was being perpetrated in front of my eyes)

I’ve linked to a couple of my favourite Ben tracks here: See Ben Singing One More Time

Perhaps its time for the hordes of tone deaf teenage voters to be removed from the equation? Or at least for their faddish effects to be toned down. Its time that the ‘judges’ were just that – impartial judges, with no tie to the mentoring process (from what I’ve seen, I doubt they actually do that much mentoring to begin with). Their comments SHOULD count for something – perhaps something similar to Strictly Come Dancing, where the judges votes count for half of the final vote – hopefully that would have prevented the ridiculous situation of the MacDonald Brothers being in so long – or for Ray being through to the final two.

Leona sang her heart out last night – probably the best I’ve ever seen her sing, and Simon Cowell must be rubbing his hands in glee at the thought of her being his million pound contract winner. Sharon must be bewildered and amazed that her star talent has gone out (although hopefully this could be a good thing, especially if the rumoured interest from EMI pays out, and Ben doesn’t now have to suffer a year’s ‘management’ from Simon, whose track record with X Factor winners isn’t really that great). I’ve still got my fingers crossed from two weeks ago, when Louis promised he’d get the Eton Road boys a record contract.. and I still maintain that the finallists (if Simon hadn’t done a shock two act eviction) should have been Ben, Leona and Eton Road.. At least I got one of the finallists right (makes a change)

I can’t begin to imagine just how smug Mr Cowell will be feeling this morning – guaranteed a winner, with both of his ‘rival mentors’ left high and dry – lets hope that something with integrity can be dragged out of this whole sorry affair, and that Leona emerges as a true winner.

Tonight saw Ben Mills leave the X factor 2006. It was a travesty but I knew it would happen. Ben should have got through to the final but Ray has the teenage vote, add those to the sympathy votes he must have gotten for his tears and he was bound to last.

I hope Ben enjoys a fruitful career outside of the X factor, he deserved to be in the final.

Simon Cowell must be chuffed, he mentors both acts in the final….its lucky he doesn’t have the final say in who wins.

This is where the X Factor gets exciting and in the penultimate week of the competition the contestants really gave their all.

Here is the Unreality TV X Factor chart.

1) Ben Mills: This is the first time in weeks that Leona hasn’t topped our chart. That isn’t because she wasn’t amazing, she was, as always. But I thought that Ben really gave something a bit extra tonight. It was as if he finally realised how important this was and he injected a bit of oooomph into his performances.

2) Leona Lewis: As always Leona was astounding tonight. She performed faultlessly and passionately and her voice was astounding. I just wish that Simon had chosen some more exciting songs for her.

3) Ray Quinn: Ray was a bit off key in parts tonight and I think the realisation of this is what reduced him to tears. In saying that he was probably the most passionate and believable and I have grown to like Ray more and more each week. He can’t quite match the other two and he shouldn’t get through to the final, but I hope he does well outside the show.

For the rundown on each individual performance and the judges comments and to let us know what you thought of tonights show, just follow the links on the contestants names above!

Louis Walsh has spoken to The Mirror today and offered his professional opinion on each of the three X Factor finalists.

Here’s what he had to say:

LOUIS ON BEN

I LOVE Ben’s voice. He’s different from anything we see on these shows – the long hair, the image. He’s a rocker like a young Rod Stewart or Joe Cocker.

Ben has progressed and taken a few chances. Last week he tried a Queen song a cappella. It was good but would have been better with some music.

He’s consistent but a hard card to read.

He’s shy but he will get the female vote. He has been in bands so he has the advantage over Leona. I knew he’d be in the final. He will go far in the music business.

LOUIS ON RAY

I WOULD never have thought Ray would be in the final three. Never ever. I thought Ben and Leona had so much more to offer.

But of the three acts left he’s the hardest working and the most professional. I’ve never seen anyone so determined.

He’s a great dancer and a good singer. He’s got a great personality and a great work ethic.

I think he’ll end up a star in the West End.

You never know, he might even make the final two.

LOUIS ON LEONA

LEONA is a great singer and there’s an opening for a girl like her in the UK – a big female solo act.

Her voice is amazing. When you think about it, we’ve had Lulu and Dusty Springfield but not many big female singing stars since.

She’s understated and not very confident and that’s why people like her. She takes everything on board, she treats it all very seriously.

I think Leona will do well. Her future in this business is very bright.

The only problem with Leona is that if she wins Simon will be so smug.