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.”

Ben also revealed that Ray Quinnn and Simon Cowell were often less than honest with the viewers saying:

“Simon always pre-warned me if he was going to spice up the show a bit by slagging me off, but I’ve never forgiven Ray [Quinn, second, 2006, now playing Danny in Grease in the West End] for crying during the semi. I offered him 50 quid not to, but he’d made up his mind. You could almost hear the old ladies at home reaching for their phones.”

Stories like this make me a whole lot more cynical about any shows that Cowell is involved with. Much as I love X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, only a fool would believe that all is as it appears on screen. Did Simon Cowell really not remember Flawless from their performances on X Factor, was he really not aware that Shaheen’s second song was much better than his first and did he ever even fire Louis Walsh in 2007? I’ll let you make your own mind up!

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.

“Now I really want to concentrate on getting away from it and coming out with the next album. Let everyone concentrate on this year’s X Factor and forget me as someone who was on the X Factor.”

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.

He said: “I walked off the show then. Luckily Simon let me come back and record the way I wanted to.

“At that point I realised for sure I wouldn’t win. Sharon had pretty much told me not to expect that before. But I felt I lost the fight then.

“When I heard ‘A Moment Like This’ I knew it had been chosen for Leona. I couldn’t hear myself singing it.

“It reminded me of Ricky Gervais releasing that single as David Brent from ‘The Office’.

“I couldn’t see myself on the video singing it, probably wearing a white linen shirt. It would have been awful.”

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.”