Ali Campbell has aired his dislike for 'The X Factor'.
The former UB40 frontman hit out at the ITV talent show and claims the only "star" the programme and similar series have ever produced is Leona Lewis, who won the third series of 'The X Factor' in 2006, while he doesn't think One Direction - who finished third on the show in 2010 - will be around "for long".
He exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "They don't really produce stars do they, there's been one. Leona Lewis is the only person to have come out of 10 years of those shows of any note."
When asked about One Direction, the 'Kingston Town' hitmaker added: "I think that would be the wrong direction wouldn't it? And they're not gonna be around for long anyway."
The 53-year-old singer also thinks it is a "shame" talent shows have such an influence on the music industry nowadays, but he doesn't expect such series to last for much longer.
He said: "It's a shame what's happened, but then something else would've taken over. The music business is cyclical, and about every 10 years something comes along to wipe out what came before it."
But Ali - who has toured the world both as a part of UB40 and as a solo artist - insists he knows what it takes to survive in the industry.
He said: "People tell me a legend but I'm not a legend at all, I'm tenacious and I refuse to give up and I'm still here. You need to be tenacious and adapt."
Ali Campbell is to perform his solo show at the IndigO2 in London on December 6. For ticket information visit www.theindigo2.com
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