X Factor under fire over ‘cruel’ audition of 54-year-old

THE X Factor has come under fire after devoting more than seven minutes of Sunday’s show to a “cruel” audition featuring contestant Ceri Rees.

A clip of Rees, from Bridgend in Wales, which showed her singing I Dreamed A Dream from the musical Les Miserables and I Will Always Love You in front of the panel was criticised online.

The 54-year-old, who has auditioned for the show four times, was shown struggling to sing in tune and was rejected by the judges.

Scots TV presenter Lorraine Kelly tweeted: “Uncomfy to watch ceri on x factor – she’s a poor wee soul”.

Singer Lily Allen wrote: “They shouldn’t have aired that audition, she’s clearly ill”.

A Mind spokesman said: “We want people with mental health problems to participate, but need programme-makers to be responsible.”

A spokeswoman for the show said: “The X Factor is open to everybody to apply and we regularly welcome back contestants who want to audition again.”