Sir Elton John fears for X Factor contestants

The singer said the show treated people like "products" and he was worried about the long-term prospects of stars like Alexandra Burke.

In a radio interview he said: "They're products, and the record comes out at Christmas, and it's always number one, and then what happens next year? Why aren't they touring? Who's managing these people? Why aren't you building their career properly? That's what worries me.

"You know, I don't hate The X Factor. I hate what happens to peoples' careers, because it's not thought about properly."