[Arneldo]

Sharon Osbourne encouraged one of her own X Factor acts to storm off the show during the third series, it has been alleged.

Ben Mills, who finished in third place in the 2006 run, has claimed that his mentor advised him to pull the stunt in a bid to win public support.

Speaking to The Times, Mills explained: "[It was] completely surreal. Sharon wanted me to stage a walkout one week to generate a huge tabloid story and get me votes. When I refused, she didn't speak to me again."

The rocker also suggested that his rival contestant Ray Quinn and show chief Simon Cowell adopted new personas when the cameras started rolling.

"Simon always pre-warned me if he was going to spice up the show a bit by slagging me off, but I've never forgiven Ray for crying during the semi-[final]," he admitted. "I offered him 50 quid not to, but he'd made up his mind. You could almost hear the old ladies at home reaching for their phones."

Mills released his debut album Picture Of You in March 2007.

Meanwhile, Osbourne quit The X Factor last year and was replaced by Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole.

DS

[Fom]

Doesn't surprise me, The X Factor is a very fake program.

[Harry!]

Sharon Osbourne is a attention seeker who is fame hungry. She would do anything for the limelight.

[Wildcat!]

LOL! Yeah, I am gonna believe a failed singer who is completel out of the limelight, coming up with a story 2 years later. That makes sense!

[James]

Here is the Times article the quote is taken from - What happens to The X Factor runners up?

Quite interesting, shows you these shows aren't much good at finding artists that stick around for a bit. With 8-10 million viewers each week the records X-Factor contestants release should fly off the shelves... but they don't.

[krayZ]

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[krayZ]

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