Dame Shirley Bassey has blamed TV talent shows for the number of young singers turning to drink and drugs - insisting a quick route to fame can destroy promising stars.
The veteran performer is convinced wannabes are thrust in front of the cameras too fast, with reality shows such as American Idol and Britain's The X Factor offering an easy route to the spotlight.
But Bassey, whose own 17-year-old granddaughter Tatjana auditioned for The X Factor, insists
instant fame can have major repercussions for fragile young talent.
She says, "These days, if kids do get discovered, it's sad, it's not lasting because they're not taken care of.
"I was taken care of, but young people now are instant stars, they can't handle it and the inevitable happens - they turn to drugs and drink."
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