X Factor to face probe with This Morning after Rebecca Ferguson slammed treatment of contestants

The X Factor is standing next to This Morning for an investigation after former contestant Rebecca Ferguson lashed out at the treatment of the hopefuls on the ITV show.

The Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage, revealed that reality shows such as the X Factor will be a “real focus” of an investigation.

Dame Caroline spoke of how she has “a lot of questions” after X Factor contestants complained about “bullying” during their part of the talent show, with Rebecca demanding an investigation into the broadcaster amid the recent Phillip Schofield scandal.

The inquest is said to have focused on the Phillip drama, which came after his admission of a relationship with a young runner on the show, leading to questions about ITV’s handling of the affair and allegations of a ‘toxic’ culture in the show.

But Dame Caroline noted that the probe will also look at reality shows such as the X Factor, Love Island and Britain’s Got Talent – with former contestants and islanders said to have been in touch.

Speak against TalkTVshe said, “We have a lot of questions, you know, and I’m not interested in a witch hunt.

“I’m not really interested in the Phillip Schofield issue and I think everyone has talked about it.”

She continued: “What I’m interested in is the systems and processes at ITV and in fact at other public service broadcasters to ensure that these giants, these gods of broadcasting, if you will, don’t have an undue influence on the careers and lives of other young staff members.’

It comes after Rebecca Ferguson burst into tears on Wednesday when she claimed that people appearing on ITV reality shows were victims of ‘bullying’ and ‘brainwashing’.

The singer, who came second in the 2010 season of the popular show, said popular reality shows take advantage of people from difficult backgrounds by “manipulating” them.

She also talked about her own career, saying she’d been through things behind the scenes “that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy,” adding that she was “pressured to take contracts that I didn’t want to sign.”

It comes after she claimed ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall came under fire from her deputy after she wrote to the channel in 2021 asking it to investigate codes of conduct and post-show aftercare for its reality shows following three Love Island stars , including Carolyn Flack, took their own lives.

However, the Liverpool-born musician said Dame Carolyn did not respond to her request and instead received a letter from ITV’s chief operating officer Sarah Clarke saying there would be no investigation and that the channel follows a duty of care charter, while apologizing for any bad experiences of its stars.

But now, after the Phillip Schofield scandal that has engulfed This Morning, Rebecca has reiterated her request for an investigation.

During a Twitter Space livestream today, the 36-year-old emotionally lifted the lid on how she feels reality stars are being treated behind the scenes after appearing on The X Factor, produced by Thames and Syco.

“You put on that Saturday night TV show and that’s your escape and you’re like ‘wow, their lives are changing,'” she said.

“And then when someone comes out and says it was very toxic and abusive, the bubble bursts.

It’s like saying “oh wow, your life isn’t fun either”. The illusion is so beautiful to people and when it is destroyed people get so excited.”

Rebecca said while she has had a “really good career” and is living the dream, “what happened to me behind the scenes I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.”

She added, “You can’t have your cake and eat it and only hear the fun stuff and not the abusive stuff.” There’s the idea that it comes with fame – [that] wanting to be a singer means you want to.

“It shouldn’t come with bullying, pressured into contracts I don’t want to sign.

“I was a 23-year-old single mom — I didn’t have a pot to piss in — I came from a working-class background and I was offered this opportunity, and it’s been my dream since I was a little girl.”

The songwriter said she thought it would be “the best thing in the world and all your dreams come true,” but while on the show, she saw “things I didn’t like and I tried to say something.”

She added that because of her young age, she “couldn’t understand the business world and contracts like that,” before lashing out at the show’s lack of support.

She said, “But why was I expected to deal with that? There should have been things to make sure I wasn’t exploited.

“I was just trying to get out of poverty. You have to wonder why people do this to people on these shows.

‘It’s often working-class people who participate, it’s always a troubled background. They are hand-picked as they are manipulated and shaped.

“What I would say is put pressure on ITV because it needs an investigation if there’s nothing to hide, then do an investigation because it costs them nothing if there’s nothing to hide.”

The mother of two burst into tears as she begged the channel to investigate her allegations.

She said, “All I know is if I was accused of something and I had the means, I would say it’s not true and say, here’s the investigation.”

Rebecca said she felt like people on the shows were “brainwashed,” but while it’s been “so hard” in the years since she’s gotten support.

She added: “A lot of things with safe guarding are just politeness and it’s sad that you have to tell people to do the right thing.

“It is allowed to continue and people are afraid to call people out. This new album will be released on my terms and will not be toxic.

I’ve now named the show instead of being vague and I’m sure there will be an investigation. I insist and so does Katie [Waissel]. I think it has to happen because they’ve gotten away with it for so long and they have no idea the impact it’s had on people’s lives.

“ITV needs to face what they did and say we shouldn’t have treated those people like that and we took advantage of it and it would give us closure. What I and others need is closure, because it was a big part of our lives.

“You have to treat the participants with respect.”