Blur guitarist Graham Coxon has described The X Factor as 'the devil's work' after an encounter with Simon Cowell.
The Britpop icon, who has recently reunited with the 1990s band to release their first album in 12 years, has claimed that the 'entertainment' element of TV talent shows has been lost.
When asked in a recent interview with The Mail on Sunday where he stands on TV singing contestants, Coxon replied: "Stage left with a machine gun."
He added: "In the past, TV talent shows provided entertainment, but they didn’t promise anybody a career. I don't believe in the devil, but The X Factor is the devil's work."
The 46-year-old went on to admit that he'd has a run-in with the music mogul just a few months ago at The Brit Awards, but the pair had exchanged very few words.
He said: "I looked at him and said, 'I've got my eye on you'. That’s all I said, because I have. He didn’t say much in reply.
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"Simon Cowell seems to be extremely good at what he does and lives in a splendid bubble as a result of it, but it’s so far away from what I do it’s almost impossible to say that the two have any relationship whatsoever."
Cowell revealed how 'happy' he was as the new X Factor line-up was revealed on Tuesday, claiming that new additions Rita Ora and Nick Grimshaw had joined up for the 'passion' not the 'money'.
Speaking on This Morning, he said: "I’m very happy, they were all agreed because of their excitement for the show and how much they want to find someone special. Nobody has signed up for the money, it was passion for being on The Factor...”
