[Red Moon]

Pop Idol winner hits out at “poor” X Factor

Former Pop Idol Michelle McManus rounded on X Factor hopeful Diana Vickers last night in an exclusive stv.tv/xfactor video interview. “I’m not a Diana fan”, said Michelle. She doubted she could listen to a whole album with her warbling voice.

Michelle moaned about the whole of last week’s programme. “It was really poor”, she added.

She went on to say that the at least the right person had been sent packing, referring to Daniel Evans’ exit on Saturday after being in the bottom two with Rachel Hylton. But she added that Rachel wasn’t her favourite either.

Michelle won Pop Idol in 2003, breaking the mould for skinny model type singers. She has remained on the music scene since then and is now also totally addicted to reality TV shows.

She said she was surprised when her favourite, Laura White, left on diva week and has now had to settle for her second choice, Eoghan Quigg. “He’s a wee cutie”, she said. She thought he did the best on the night, pulling off her favourite George Michael song One More Try.

One contender who surprised Michelle on the night was Alexandra Burke. Normally she thinks she is fantastic, but this time seemed flat with a very weird song choice that no-one could relate too.

Another one she always thinks gives it a hundred per cent, with last week no different, is Ruth Lorenzo. Michelle she added jokingly, “There are two things Ruth brings to this competition”, referring to her bust.

Having already had to endure Simon Cowell’s lordly manners on Pop Idol, she laughs off the notion that he could have lost control of the competition. “That’s rubbish”, she said. “He’s the puppet master.” She was sure that, by suggesting that he had no control, he was using reverse psychology. He wanted to get people back on his side after Daniel had stayed on so long despite Simon’s opposition.

When asked about the performance from guest artist Leona Lewis, bringing a supposed tear to Simon’s eye, Michelle just said, “It was world class”, and jokingly added, “imagine if you had to be up against her, you’ll be like: ‘Taxi! I’m off’.”

Source and a link to the Interview: STV