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.

The recently evicted MacDonald Brothers are backing their pal Ben Mills to win the X Factor 2006.

Craig Mac Donald said To The Daily Record:

“He’s had a bit of a hard time the last few weeks and he’s been in the bottom two.

“We want Ben to make it to the final and would ask all our Scottish fans to support him.

“He’s a great guy and one of our best mates and he has the most incredible voice.

“We know how hard it is to struggle in the competition and be criticised, so we are doing all we can to back him.

“I think it’s hard on Ben being a favourite because there’s a lot of pressure to keep impressing.

“And he’s found it hard when the public didn’t vote for him and when his comments from the judges weren’t as good as they could be.

“We need to all back Ben and get him back on track to win the show. It would mean the world to him.”

X Factor finalist Ben Mills has vowed to cut off his flowing locks if it would make Simon Cowell better disposed to him.

Ben said: “I’ve had my hair long since I was 11, but if Simon told me I had to chop it off, I would!”

Come on Ben….you would take fashion advice from Mr Hike-The-Trousers?

X Factor finalist Ben Mills, has revealed that he believes fellow finalist, Leona Lewis, will win the show.

He told Star magazine: “I don’t think the show’s been fixed in favour of Leona but I think she will probably win.”

Ben is convinced that the public are bored of him.

He said: “I think people are a bit fed up of seeing me with a piano, and I got really attached to having it on stage with me.

“Before I almost went out, I would have said I had a good chance of winning, but this contest isn’t just about singing, it’s also about everything surrounding you, and how you come across.

“I’m not an actor, and I won’t be something I’m not.”

X Factor mentor, Sharon Osbourne vowed to bare her breasts on national TV if the audience kept one of her acts on the British talent show The X Factor.

Sharon made the jokey promise in a desperate attempt to ensure her contestant BEN MILLS stayed in for next week’s semi final.

Staring into the cameras, she said, “Please, please, vote for Ben. If you vote for Ben I swear I will bear my breasts naked to the nation.” Despite fellow judge Simon Cowell joking, “I think you lost your artist a place in the semi final there,” Ben made it through to the next round, but will Sharon come through on her prmoise………

X Factor finalist, Ben Mills, has admitted that he struggles to cope with panic attacks that hit him week after week as the pressure builds on the show.

Ben told the Sunday Mirror he suffers from shortness of breath and dizziness before going on stage every Saturday.

He’s also been struck by insomnia, getting just four hours sleep a night.

He said: “I literally eat, sleep and breathe the songs I’m performing that week. So I find it very difficult to switch off mentally and drop off.

“We had a therapist in and she saw there was something wrong.

“I think I panic because the show means so much to me.”