Monday, 11 December 2006

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Ben Mills: It was a relief to leave X Factor

Singer is glad to get out of stressful show

Instead of feeling disappointed at being kicked out of TV's biggest talent show, rocker Ben Mills says he feels nothing but relief.

The singer, 26, who was voted off X Factor on Saturday, says disputes with producers left him feeling stressed and he was convinced he'd never be in the final two.

'There was no way I was going to make it to the final,' he tells The Sun. 'I actually felt like a huge weight had been lifted off me.

'I had been living with all this pressure for so long it had got too much.'

The show hasn't always been plain sailing for Ben. After performing at a gig with some former bandmates, he was grounded by bosses for eight days. And Ben was left feeling shamefaced after a row over the winner's single - Kelly Clarkson's A Moment Like This.

During the dispute, Ben - who felt he'd been sidelined because the song wasn't suited to his style - went home to stay with his mum while he cooled off. But later he discovered the song would have been especially adapted for him if he'd won.

'In the end my version sounded wicked, nothing like the original single so all my moaning was for nothing,' he says. 'It's just a pity that no one's ever going to hear it.'

Surviving contestants Leona and Ray will battle it out in next Saturday's final.