Sharon Osbourne has ruled out a return to The X Factor, after comparing it to the ‘Wild West’ and saying ‘the whole thing needs to be changed’.
The TV personality, 71, appeared on the judging panel for the talent show from 2004 to 2007, before returning in 2013, 2016 and 2017 and also appeared on America’s Got Talent between 2007 and 2012.
However, she has now said that she would not be a judge on one again, due to the potential damage the shows can have on contestants.
Speaking to host Jackie Brambles on her Greatest Hits Radio show on Wednesday, Sharon discussed The X Factor, first gushing: ‘I got to meet some incredible people – Louis [Walsh] is still like my brother, Nicole [Scherzinger] and Gary Barlow – amazing people.’
However, she continued: ‘But as far as talent shows go, and I’ve been away from it for a while, it was kind of like the Wild West.
Sharon Osbourne has ruled out a return to The X Factor , after comparing it to the ‘Wild West’ and saying ‘the whole thing needs to be changed’ (pictured on show in 2004)
The TV personality, 71, appeared on the judging panel for the talent show from 2004 to 2007, before returning in 2013, 2016 and 2017 and also appeared on America’s Got Talent between 2007 and 2012 (pictured on X Factor in 2007)
However, she has now said that she would not be a judge on one again, due to the potential damage the shows can have on contestants (pictured on X Factor in 2017)
‘You didn’t really know the importance and what it does to people’s lives and as far as I’m concerned, the whole thing needs to be changed.
‘As well as giving people, a lot of people, opportunities with their careers it can also damage a lot of people too. You have to be very, very careful.
‘You’re handling people’s lives, you’ve got their future in your hands and it’s not anything to laugh at.’
While she said she doesn’t regret it, she admitted she wouldn’t go back, explaining: ‘I wouldn’t want that responsibility again, there’s damage out there and I wouldn’t want to be a part of that.
‘I don’t regret it, I learnt a lot about the responsibility of doing a show like that, and it was a great education.’
The X Factor saw contestants battling out to win a recording contract by showing off their musical talent.
However, a huge part of the show – which attracted controversy from the start – was that it was exploitative, encouraging people to audition just for them to be ruthlessly critiqued by the judges.
Sharon comments come a year after she previously slammed talent shows like The X Factor and America’s Got Talent, this time for being ‘dated’.
The X Factor saw contestants battling out to win a recording contract by showing off their musical talent (Leona Lewis pictured on show in 2006)
However, a huge part of the show – which attracted controversy from the start – was that it was exploitative, encouraging people to audition just for them to be ruthlessly critiqued by the judges (Zoe Alexander pictured on show in 2012)
Speaking to TalkTV about Britain’s Got Talent, she said: ‘But I think it’s like a variety show, and you can only go so long before you’ve trawled everything… These type of shows I think are very dated.
She went on to add: ‘It’s over trawled here, so they bring talent from around the world – like they do in America. They’ll bring all Europeans over, just like they stood in line to rehearse when it’s set up before.
‘I always used to say that after one or two seasons, if you’ve been watching that show and you go in and audition you know what you’re going to get. So don’t act surprised or hurt because you’ve seen everybody else go to the slaughter.’
Sharon decided to leave The X Factor judging panel in October 2018, despite previously being confirmed to be returning for series 15.
In a statement, she said: ‘After watching the new season of The X Factor unfold, I’ve seen the new judges finding their rhythm and are doing brilliantly.
‘Simon was so gracious to find me a spot on the live shows but at this point, I really don’t think I’m needed and I would honestly feel odd coming in at this point.
‘I have decided to pass on the series this year. I wish the show continued success and as much as I love to get my face on TV you will have to do without me this season.’
However, in 2019 she claimed that she had been axed by fellow judge and show creator Simon Cowell over her age.
Sharon comments come a year after she previously slammed talent shows like The X Factor and America’s Got Talent, this time for being ‘dated’ (pictured on show in 2006)
Sharon decided to leave The X Factor judging panel in October 2018, despite previously being confirmed to be returning for series 15 (pictured on show in 2017)
Appearing on The Talk, the host also revealed she turned down a role in The Masked Singer as she was signed up to return to the ITV show instead.
Sharon shared: ‘I turned down to be a judge on the Masked Singer. I was signed on to do another show at the time.
‘I was signed to go to England, and then Simon Cowell changed his mind and thought I was too old. I was under contract and couldn’t do it.’
In her true comedic fashion, she joked: ‘Simon goes, “She’s old. We need somebody young.” So if you want young, fire yourself and get rid of those man t**s!’
Speaking about both The X Factor and AGT, she said: ‘It is a boys club, okay, it is, and the boys take care of each other, and the women are not paid as much as the men.
‘Simon owns the show and the time I was there, Simon was never on the show. So when the show was doing 16 million, 14 million, Simon was never there.’
However, Simon later expressed an interest with working with Sharon again, despite their apparent feud.
The music mogul told The Mirror in 2019: ‘I phoned her up the other day and said “Look, I’ll be honest with you. How could I criticize you for being mouthy when it’s the reason I hired you in the first place?”
However, in 2019 she claimed that she had been axed by fellow judge and show creator Simon Cowell over her age (pictured on show with Louis and Simon in 2005)
However, Simon later expressed an interest with working with Sharon again, despite their apparent feud (pictured together on show in 2007)
‘Sharon gets a bit carried away but deep down she’s got real affection for the shows. There will be other versions of these shows, I am sure, and she is always welcome back.
‘There’s absolutely no bad blood at all and as I said, when people think I’m annoyed with her, I’m not! She’s a good friend and always will be.’
In response, Sharon told The Talk: ‘Well, we were never, for me, not, not friends. Because for me, it was business, not personal, and there’s a huge line.
‘That’s what happens when you work with people that you like. You fall out business-wise but for me, I say what I feel at the time, and for me, it’s over.’
Despite the friends patching things up, Sharon did not express any interest in maintaining a professional relationship with Simon.
But she still denied wanting to reunite with Simon on another project, saying: ‘Just because I said certain things about, and to, Simon, doesn’t mean I hate him forever, just for that second I don’t like him.
‘I never use the word hate when I talk about people. He’s okay, it’s just, I don’t want to work with him.’
Sharon showed off her weight loss as she stepped out on Thursday after an interview at BBC Radio 2.
Sharon showed off her weight loss as she stepped out on Thursday after an interview at BBC Radio 2
She cut a sophisticated figure in a white rollneck jumper teamed with a pair of smart black trousers
The music manager bundled up from the chilly weather in a long tailored black coat and toted a cream handbag and a newspaper
Sharon added an extra few inches of height to her slender frame with a pair of black high heeled boots
She hid her face being a pair of black oversized sunglasses and blew kisses to the paparazzi as she walked down the street
She recently lost 42lbs using diabetes drug Ozempic, but has now said she wants to put the pounds back out as she is ‘too gaunt’
The drug is also known as Wegovy – the brand name for semaglutide, which works in the brain to make users feel full
In an interview with DailyMail.com, Sharon admitted the effect her weight loss has had on her health
She said: ‘I’m too gaunt, and I can’t put any weight on. I want to because I feel I’m too skinny. I’m under 100 lbs, and I don’t want to be,’ she explained, adding the warning, Be careful what you wish for’
She cut a sophisticated figure in a white rollneck jumper teamed with a pair of smart black trousers.
The music manager bundled up from the chilly weather in a long tailored black coat and toted a cream handbag and a newspaper.
Sharon added an extra few inches of height to her slender frame with a pair of black high heeled boots.
She hid her face being a pair of black oversized sunglasses and blew kisses to the paparazzi as she walked down the street.
She recently lost 42lbs using diabetes drug Ozempic, but has now said she wants to put the pounds back out as she is ‘too gaunt’.
The drug is also known as Wegovy – the brand name for semaglutide, which works in the brain to make users feel full.
In an interview with DailyMail.com, Sharon admitted the effect her weight loss has had on her health.
She said: ‘I’m too gaunt, and I can’t put any weight on. I want to because I feel I’m too skinny. I’m under 100 lbs, and I don’t want to be,’ she explained, adding the warning, Be careful what you wish for.’