Mobo award winning singer Beverley Knight has hit out at ITV’s X Factor and it’s ‘puppet master’ Simon Cowell.

After winning a spot on the Birmingham Walk Of Stars the ‘Shoulda Woulda Coulda’ singer told Metro:

‘The thing is with The X Factor is that it throws up people like Leona (Lewis) and Alexandra (Burke) who were always going to do well, but it also gives you Jedward.’

When asked how she act if she were a judge on the hit TV talent show, Knight said she’d want to give them ‘real music advice, ‘not “TV” advice like Simon Cowell the grand puppet master.’

She added: ‘I couldn’t sit next to Cheryl Cole and hear her tell someone how great they are, while I’m sat there thinking, “No you’re not”.’