Noel Gallagher: 'X Factor Gives Winner Instant Mental Illness'

Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher has suggested that the instant fame afforded to the winner of The X Factor brings on “instant mental illness”.

In an interview with the Radio Times, Gallagher widely criticised the programme, claiming it has nothing to do with music “and everything to do with television".

He also accused one of The X Factor judges, Dannii Minogue, of being incapable of spotting talent.

"If somebody is dangling this carrot of 'fame and fortune' in front of a check-out girl from Barnsley who can sing like Britney Spears then they're going to go for it, right,” Gallagher said.

"But it seems to bring on instant mental illness. You're going in at the top, with a number one that sells 750,000 or whatever and you've got someone like Dannii Minogue telling you you're really talented - and if there's one person in the room who wouldn't know talent... it's Dannii Minogue.

"You spend a year slogging around the country and then what? You can't go back to Barnsley and be a check-out girl cos that would look bad.

"So you end up either trying to be an actress or trying to sustain your profile by going on celebrity shows."

Gallagher added: "Instead of instant fame and celebrity and all your ex-boyfriends and girlfriends coming out of the cupboard and your family being ripped apart the prize ought to be: 'I'll introduce you to someone who might introduce you to someone who might, if you're very lucky, know a producer who'd record one of your songs.'

"That's the only way to make any money. Otherwise you sell 5 million records and earn 50 grand."
 
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