THE lead singer of rising Amman Valley band The Last Republic has slammed the most popular TV show in Britain.
Jonny Owen told the Guardian he hoped the coveted Christmas No.1 spot would be taken by "anyone other than The 'X' Factor."
The outspoken singer, whose band's debut album 'Parade' has been voted among this year's top ten albums by BBC Radio Wales, added: "I hate The 'X' Factor so much.
"It's not organic and is all about wannabes doing other people's songs - and killing them!
"At the end of the day it's bands like us who’re out there doing the hard graft.
"We're the ones playing the dodgy venues and sitting in a van on a way to a gig wondering if a promoter is going to pay up so we'll be able to eat.
"The 'X' Factor is a cynical money-making machine while little bands like us are allowed to slip through the net.
'Twenty years ago we'd have been appearing on The Chart Show and Top Of The Pops - but times have changed."
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