Former X Factor contestant Stacey Soloman has admitted that she used to “pretend” that Simon Cowell was her friend.

Bang Showbiz quote the Dagenham singer as saying: “Sometimes I pretend he’s my friend. I sit next to him and try to have a conversation. What a loser.”

Stacey also talked about how much she loved the celebrity lifestyle during her time on the show.

She said: “My highlight was going to the premiere of ‘A Christmas Carol’. I tried to shout at Jim Carrey but he didn’t talk to me. And I said hello to Chantelle Houghton but I don’t think she knew who I was.”