Andrew Ridgeley says he fears for X Factor contestants

Wham! star Andrew Ridgeley has described modern TV talent shows like The X Factor as “brutal”, and said he fears for the “consequences” for some of the contestants.

Over the years, The X Factor has made stars of performers such as James Arthur, Shayne Ward and Alexandra Burke – but many others have either been ridiculed or disappeared after brief fame.

“They have unearthed talent over the years. But it is very brutal way of doing that and I am not a big fan myself,” Ridgeley said.

“It’s a TV programme made for entertainment and I think there is a lot in the way the process is really, really harsh on some kids and I wouldn’t at all be surprised if it has lasting consequences for some who don’t make it.”

Ridgeley, 56, was speaking at an event at the Cheltenham Literature Festival to promote his memoir about his friendship with George Michael entitled Wham! George And Me.

The book details first meeting Michael in 1975 at Bushey Meads School to their rise to fame and success with hits including Last Christmas and Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go in the 1980s.

It also covers the band’s farewell gig at London’s Wembley Stadium on June 28 1986, which Ridgeley wanted to be a tour.

“I felt that it was a slight betrayal of the fans who had supported us globally,” he said.

“I felt we should have toured that last show and it would have been a wonderful thing to have done, to bid farewell to our global audience. It was a disappointment.”

But Ridgeley said the recording of that final concert would never be released.

“I would love that to happen, but it was never actually filmed or recorded for broadcast and George felt it wasn’t of the quality that he would be prepared to be made public,” he said.

“Ultimately, he was going to have to move on from Wham! and by its nature it was going to be short-lived,” he said.

“The scale and speed of our success hastened the fact we brought it to a close after such a short time.”

Following the split, Michael went on to have a major career as a solo artist and became one of the biggest-selling artists of all time. He died on Christmas Day in 2016 at the age of 53.

Meanwhile Ridgeley – who co-wrote Wham! hit Careless Whisper with Michael – largely avoided the limelight, although he released a solo album called Son Of Albert in 1990.

He said he had been the driving force behind the decision to form a band as teenagers, and that Michael was shy as a boy and grew in confidence with age.

“He was a very private man and he felt very strongly there was a distinction between his private life and his public life.

“So much was asked of us and of him throughout the course of our public life, that he needed to reserve something for himself.

“He also realised it might be detrimental to Whams! pursuit of success and the image.”

Discussing his friend’s drug use, Ridgeley said: “There was no helping George I’m afraid and he was very much of his own mind and that was not something he shared with his friends.

“There were certain aspects of his life that were off limits and he wouldn’t take advice on them. They weren’t for discussion.”