Former X-Factor contestant Lucy Spraggan offered her advice to Simon Cowell, as he opened up about the potential return of the ITV singing competition.
Lucy, 31 and Simon, 63, met when she auditioned for the show back in 2012. Now, the music mogul is publishing her new songs, which the duo opened up about on This Morning.
The X-Factor came off air in 2018, before it was officially cancelled in 2022. Since then, the Britain’s Got Talent judge has revealed that he is keen to make a reboot.
As Simon teased an X-Factor comeback, co-host Alison Hammond asked Lucy if there is anything she would change about the show from the perspective of the contestants.
“If we did bring it back, Lucy, do you think you've got some advice for Simon on how he could change it up a bit?" Alison, 47, asked.
Lucy explained that a singer’s welfare – both during and after the show - should be the top priority, which many former contestants including Rebecca Ferguson have mentioned in the past.
"I genuinely do,” Lucy said. “I think the importance of looking after contestants and trying to help their careers from a longevity perspective is really important."
She added sternly: "And I feel like I would be the right person to ask if you did have any questions."
"I have a lot of questions!" Simon replied.
The talent show judge admitted that he would address that issue if the show was return, and said the format of the show would have to change too.
“We have talked about that, ‘what would you do differently today?’ There’s a lot I’ve learnt, to be honest with you,” Simon shared.
“I think it started to become a bit of a machine. You put a record out that year, and then you move on. That’s not the way to do it.
“And also, when you throw someone into the limelight, it’s hard, you know?”
With the format changes, Dermot O’Leary put forward his co-host Alison if they needed a fifth judge.
“If you needed an extra judge, there is no one I could endorse more. This one would literally bring the house down in the palladium," the 49-year-old exclaimed.
