Pete Waterman has said that he would only join the X Factor judging panel if he was offered £1 million.

The former Pop Idol judge said this would be necessary as he feels that contestants are now “exploited” on TV talent competitions. I don’t know how him getting paid an extortionate amount of money would help.

Speaking to the Daily Record, Waterman explained: “I’m not going to sit in a room with a mum accusing me of being deluded because these people shouldn’t be in a room where someone is going to be brutal and tell them the truth if they don’t understand what the show is about.

“I’m not going to sit and talk about things I know I shouldn’t be, talking to some poor kid in front of a camera who’s not stable. There are people who shouldn’t be on TV because they can’t cope. I don’t think we should take advantage of vulnerable people.”

Asked if he would ever join the show, he commented: “If they offered me a million pounds I might go back.”