I Was Painted As The Villain! | We're Talking TV Talent Shows

0:00This week, we're talking TV talent shows. Today, you'll hear from Cher Lloyd, who was just 16 when her X Factor audition went viral, and Callum Scott, whose Britain's Got Talent performance transformed his life overnight. They share the highs, the lows, and what it's really like behind the cameras of reality TV. So let's get into it. Today, we're talking TV talent shows.

0:35Talk to me about what could be one of the most epic auditions ever in X Factor history. How did it happen? Do you know what? I used to sing that Kerry Hilson song over and over again in my bedroom on that same karaoke machine. I loved the song. Like, I just, I loved it. it didn't even cross my mind that people would be so surprised that a girl like me would sing a song like that so yeah I went to that audition my mum took me on the train I remember the train was expensive you know but she was the last of her money to buy the train ticket we went to audition and it just felt like every step of it was like, yeah, you're through, you're through, you're through, you're through.

1:30And it just, it just, it ran away. It ran away and it was just shocking to see that, oh wow, yeah, I'm finally doing it. This is the moment. This is the moment everyone's going to know my name. So you believed this was your moment? I knew. I knew from the second I got there to that audition I've got this I've got it, I can do it that song is like a full confidence 100 % I'm here that's what that song is and as soon as I started singing that song I had to become that that's what you do, you become the song so I think it was surprising to see this little thing walk out on the stage. A girl like me sing that song.

2:25Sing that song. Now the song, the song selection, can I say superb? Thank you. Superb song selection. Thank you. Soldier Boy, Turn My Swag On. One of my favourites, can I say. And when I was doing the research, right, because I wasn't in the UK at the time, so I didn't see X Factor that season, but what I understand is it was the most watched season. We're talking about season seven, the most watched season in X Factor history. Over 14 million people on average were watching every episode. I know, I know. But it was the best, the absolute best. The talent on that series of The X Factor, unmatched, unmatched, One Direction.

3:11Really? Yeah. I mean, so with the talent, you're living with each other, right? Yes. So you lived with One Direction. Yeah, Rebecca Ferguson. Yes. Mary Byrne, who I love. What, 2010? 2010. 2010. Yeah. To the point where whenever I say your name, so what I did is like the last couple of days, I've been saying, hey, you know, Cher Lloyd, Cher Lloyd's coming. Have you heard Cher Lloyd? Everyone remembers you. and they remember that moment that you stepped on stage and you sang that song. Yeah. You know, I've done reality TV for so many years now. And I think I've seen you say this where we have to understand that it is a singing competition, but it's also a reality television show.

4:00Yeah, of course. At the same time. So let's talk about the reality TV bit of it. Yeah. How do you feel as if you were portrayed versus who you actually were? Because I did have such confidence and was such a presence at that time. I think that was a gateway into kind of giving me the character of the villain. I guess I was the villain that year, which tends to happen in reality TV. And I'm not saying that I was perfect because I definitely wasn't. I think I struggled a lot on the show with how to deal with this instant fame and people's comments towards me, the negative attention. I didn't know how to deal with it.

4:58But at the same time, I look back and I think I didn't deserve half of the stuff that happened to me. I definitely didn't. And I'd feel the same if that was my daughter. Yes. If my daughter had to go through what I went through. Yes. I'd pull her from that. You would? I'd pull her a million percent, a million percent. It's all these tiny little micro things that just makes a person lose their mind. I lost my mind on that show. A million percent, I lost it. and I didn't feel like I had anyone to turn to. No one to talk to properly because they were on the show. Like, could I trust anyone? Because I'd tried to talk to other people before and then the next day it's in the newspaper.

5:50So where do you go? There were just so many different sides to it that I think at that age, I wasn't ready. I definitely wasn't ready but then again would I be ready mentally for something like that now I'm not sure or is anyone no because that's the other thing is I wasn't the only one that went through that there were other people on that show that experienced the negative side of it and of course it's show business I know that you take the good with the bad but sometimes things got really dark for me and I was only 16 years old you're 16 years old what about mental health support I mean I know a lot has changed in the industry in terms of reality tv over the years yeah um but 2010 what type of mental health support were you getting there was like a team of people like that to support.

6:57I was given antidepressants while on the show. Really? I was 16. Yeah, and I was prescribed antidepressants while on the show. Mm-hmm. I thought that was the norm. I guess this is showbiz. So you just take them? I, yeah, I felt like I had to because I, was it going to get better? Was it going to feel better? Was it going to stop? I didn't know. Goodness. You know, so you have the issues that you're dealing with in terms of the press. But also, from what I understand and read, there were challenges with the judges. Right, yes. As well. Yeah. Yeah. I think because I'd been given this sort of character on the TV show, it made it easy for people to jump on the bandwagon.

7:49Because that happens, right? Yeah. You know, once people start talking negatively about a person, it enables other people to chime in. And that often happened with me. And of course, it makes for great television. So yeah, I butted heads with judges on the show. More so when I left the show. Especially as I'm older now and I'm wiser, I don't let people speak to me that way anymore. I don't stand for it. So on the show, though, because it's interesting when you think about a show like that, they're judges, but at the same time, I think, at least I feel like they're presented as mentors. Yeah, that's right.

8:33So they're presented as, okay, I'm going to support you and I'm going to carry you through this journey that you're on. Did you feel like they were mentors or something else? it's really tricky it's it's a hard one because you know it's reality tv there's always some type of fakery when it comes to reality tv facts facts yeah it happens yeah at the same time what i will say is when i was on the show cheryl was nothing but good to me and i had this feeling like she knew she she knew and she'd always ask me if i was okay really but i knew that she meant it i knew that when she said it she was actually saying are you okay yes like do you need help yes so i felt supported by her but everything else around i just felt like it was just for the show So me personally, being in the mental state that I was in, I didn't feel like I was taken care of.

9:46If anything, people just put fuel on the fire. As I looked at it, right, it's like the relationship with Simon seems to be, you know, good and solid and, you know, you listen. Right. With Cheryl, that was interesting. I didn't realize that in terms of this tight connection. It feels like there's that tight connection. from what you're saying. With Louis...

10:14We just butted heads. We really did. He didn't get me. And that's fine, because not everyone is going to like me. I know I'm cool with that. We all deal with that, don't we? Not everyone is going to connect with you. That's fine. But he just took a disliking to me. But it was strong. And looking back on it, that's kind of weird. So do you think it was an actual disliking of you or a disliking of the villain character that they're presenting? Perhaps, but also people like to jump on the bandwagon because, you know, they want to be involved in that narrative. And I think he's known for doing that on several occasions, jumping on the bandwagon.

11:03Fair. So what was it like living with some of those artists? I mean, obviously, Liam Payne's been all over the news. We saw that you had a very touching post on Instagram. What was it like living with him and especially One Direction, who went on to do, you know, phenomenal, phenomenal things? Yeah. I just want to say, like, One Direction, having my journey with them, I think really helped me. honestly I've never met such caring lovely guys and young they were young same as me but they were all such good people no ego decent people who loved to sing as much as I did And that's one of the biggest things that I'd love to share about Liam.

12:02He sung from his heart and it was a gift. Liam had a gift. And I just think I'll always remember that about him. There was no one quite like him. Wow. Wow. Yeah. you know when i think back to you just saying you know i really didn't have anyone to talk to it sounds like but you had them like that was pretty much all you had yeah you know yeah to lean on and we did have loads of discussion when it came to things that were happening in the moment we were very close-knit it was like this little family and we had such fun like oh we'd get into the back of Addison Lee's in taxis and we'd be like chased by paparazzi and we all thought it was the funniest thing in the world we would just be laughing and then you know I remember lots of time Zane would put on a song on his phone and we'd be singing along to the song and like it was almost like we had this like duo going on and it yeah just so many good memories cooking together listening to music playing games like a kid should be having fun yes those moments those are the good memories those are the good ones so that was almost they became your family yeah yeah yeah like a little x-factor family yes yeah it was it was lovely yeah i could see i could see you light up you know talking about it just it makes me remember all the good points yes about being on the show it wasn't all dark it really wasn't but getting to be with people my age as well and I hadn't ever left my small town like and then all of a sudden I'm in London I've met all of these new interesting cool people and I'm getting to know them and literally having the best time of my life some of the best memories are when we weren't filming and we were just hanging out What about the competitive aspect?

14:22Because you're also competing with them. But yet it seems like they're family. It wasn't there. Okay. It wasn't there, you know. Like, okay, we'd have the show, the live show, and then it gets the results part. And quite honestly, we were all upset that one of us was going to go. It was more like that feeling, and not like, I really want to get through. We had none of that energy. None of that energy. It was like, oh, I hope so-and-so's going to be okay if they get voted out. Because you just form this friendship. And, yeah, the competitive thing, it wasn't really a thing. It wasn't a thing. That's interesting.

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16:31So I'm curious, going into Britain's Got Talent, what was your wildest dream? even at that point my cap on what i felt was achievable was so low hey i remember on the way to the audition in manchester i was in the car with my sister and with a couple of friends of ours and i said to her i think the best outcome we can have is some positive criticism from the judges and we go home and we work on it your dream was some positive criticism bro i honestly i kid you not i genuinely was sat there in the car saying you know we'll get some if we take some positive criticism you know we might get a little bit of negative criticism but we'll take the positive criticism we'll go home we'll work on it i obviously just didn't think i was ready it was a weird day it was a weird day because for for the first time i think it had become real cameras were around we'd had like these vt sort of uh tapings where we sort of talked as a family and they're like, oh, we're going to be a little bit in the distance.

17:33You talk to your mum about your audition, how nervous you are and stuff. And it was very, it felt scripted in the sense of, you know, stand there and talk to your mum whilst we film. But that was the only part of it that was scripted. Everything was real, you know, the way we talked about it, our hugs that we gave each other, all very, very real. And it was when we was backstage and it was just me and Jade where she started getting really, like, really upset and nervous. And I think that was the first time I ever saw my sister in a slightly vulnerable position. Why was she nervous? I think the weight of the situation had finally dawned on her.

18:14I mean, we were both kind of quite happy-go-lucky and it was exciting. A couple of friends there that was there and a couple of family members. And we were all buzzing. We're all in the lobby. There's tons of other people and Britain's Got Talent and all in lights. and I guess the excitement took away from what was about to happen. And then I think when we were backstage and mum had to be in the audience and it was just me and her and the researchers were coming over going, there's wrestlers on before us. Britain's Got Talent. So it is literally a plethora of talent. So there were these wrestlers that were going on and then they said, then we'll come to you too.

18:54That was the most viewed show in the UK that year. I think it was over 10 million people watching. Yeah. And in BGT's history, the most viewed audition, which is just... Yeah. Yeah. I mean, what the hell? Yeah. Think about that. Most viewed audition, right? You have the most viewed series. How many people are in the arena that you're performing? It's thousands, right? Yeah, at least a couple of thousands. Yeah, a couple of thousands. It's terrifying. This is the largest audience you've ever performed in front of life. By, by far. And I think, I think because, because we were in a theater and because it was a huge audience and you've got the four judges who we've grown up watching, you know, Simon Cowell and David Walliams and, you know, it was, I think that, and we were sat next to Ant and Dec, you know, who we love.

19:48So for us, it was very surreal. And I think I, for one, totally forgot about the cameras. And I'm so glad that I did because it was, for me, it was that moment in that theatre that mattered. It wasn't, what's the repercussions of this? Who's going to be watching at home? It was very much there and then. I mean, it was the most, it's hard to sort of recall how I felt because it was so like, there's so much pressure and we took a second i had a bit of a breather and then i walked out i'm shaking yes you know and alicia says oh you're you're jade's brother and i'm like yeah and she's like you okay and i'm like yeah and then i looked to her and i looked to her the whole way i mean they didn't even pick up how many times i looked to i mean i did i did i wasn't here in the uk during that time uh so you know i i saw this your your audition which yes is at almost 400 million views this in in particular right and what just screamed at me and i didn't understand until this conversation was why you continued to look back yeah what was going on in in in your mind i think she was my safe place at that moment she was the only thing i could see that resembled anything that i knew none of it was familiar the only thing that was familiar was my sister in the wings so she was my only anchor back to my reality did you have a sense of how the audience and the judges were reacting to you or was your sole focus yeah it was more on her i mean i i i think i was a little bit sort of starstruck you know i've got these in essence celebrities in front of me you know i was very aware that i was talking to celebrities and you know i'm from hull you know our local celebrities were you know the the the bee lady which was this lady who wore a bee costume who collected for charity bless god rest us all she was our she was our celebrity you know our local news reporter was our celebrity so you know even then that would have been cool to talked to them in real life but you're talking to Simon Cowell you know Alicia Dixon you're talking to these celebrities and so it was it was very sort of surreal but I was so massively aware the full front of my mind was my sister she's there she's gonna be there she was crying her eyes out bless her but she's there for me yes I felt strong enough to give what I needed to give And most funny Paul is she goes, right, whenever you're ready.

22:30And I say, thank you. And I death stare Simon Cowell. It's like a very small, like half a second. I look to him. And if looks could kill. I'm telling you now, like, you've just made my sister. She's crying her eyes out, man. How dare you do that to her? And then you see that. And you'll watch it back and you'll be like, holy shit. That's the stare. That's the stare. Do you think that gave you, did that give you any bit of passion, bravado? Yeah, a bit of gusto. Yes. It wasn't sort of like, I'm going to prove you wrong. It wasn't, it didn't give me strength. It just gave me pure emotion. And all those emotions, that kind of chaos was, singing and performing was the perfect kind of vehicle for me to be able to get out how I was feeling.

23:19and I don't think I would ever be able to perform it the way I did on that audition again in the way that I did. You know, there was a moment where the piano comes in and it's sort of a little interlude. Yes. And I show my hands shaking. Yes. I think, again, I look back again and see my sister and I smile at her and I think that was a very human moment in what was a very surreal, out-of-this-world experience for me. I'm just a human being here. I'm just, I'm not a robot. I'm not a, you know, I'm not a music artist. I'm just a human being, you know? So my question is, is who were you showing that your hand to?

23:58Who in particular? Like, was it yourself? Your sister? Yeah, I guess I was trying to show everybody in that moment, like, just how, and I was. I was actually shaking. That's why I was gripping, when you watch it back, I was gripping the microphone stand so hard. Because it was, that was my security blanket. and when I look at my performances now, that security blanket I had throughout, for the first parts of my career, microphone stand, gripping it tight, hiding behind it. Yes. Wasn't until probably the last tour that I did, my Bridges tour, where I was able to free myself from that. Yeah, which is weird looking back on it now that that stayed with me for such a long time.

24:38But yeah, it's not as if I was feeling like I was performing to any one person. I was just performing. You're just performing. Yeah. Well, I mean, you perform one hell of a song. Thank you. It was one of those where this shows you my ignorance on Britain's Got Talent. This is true ignorance. Yeah. So, you know, I'm watching your audition, right? And I think, oh, my God. I was like, his voice, he sounds like an angel. Oh, thank you. Sounds like an angel. Thank you. And I'm watching it with my boys, my two little boys. And then Simon goes over, he hits the golden buzzer. And I was like, what's the golden buzzer mean?

25:15is he in? Is he just lost? I was like, why is he getting no golden buzzer? Where's all this confetti coming down? Why is everybody so happy? What's the golden buzzer about? Right? But I've now since understood. It's the kind of the straight through to the finals vibe. Yeah. Yeah. It was, do you know what was so weird about that is that, obviously you don't necessarily see it on the show, but he had like a bowl of mints, you know, like mint Imperials or whatever. Okay. Okay. And when he stood up, I thought, oh, he's going to go get some mints. So I was completely unaware. And as soon as he pressed that buzzer, you can see the colour just drained from my spec.

25:53Because I'm just like, I thought the guy was just grabbing some mints. Like, what's going on? The fact that Simon had pressed it was, you know, the most coveted prize I could have think of getting because he was, you know, an industry label owner for many years, a psycho. So, you know, I'd seen everything he'd done and with X Factor and, you know, Little Mix from One Direction, James Arthur, all those acts I'd seen go through with Simon. And so I knew that if I got his approval, I must be doing something right. But think about this. That song was, was that a minute maybe you were on stage? It felt like an hour.

26:34So it was about a minute, right? Yeah. So a minute prior, you're giving him a death stare. and I asked him about that I'm like did you see me when I did that and he was like yeah yeah I did but then a minute later you know he he's he he changed your life yeah it was almost as if the golden buzzer was him going I publicly vouch for this guy yes it felt like probably for the first time somebody giving me somebody somebody backing me somebody going this is this is I believe in this person outside of my family obviously it was the first time I'd ever had that music so it was it was a complete life changer and you know obviously after the the confetti had settled you know he he gave me his feedback and he was like you know the the version was sensational and he was like you're not just a singer you're an artist and you know listening to the judges talk the way they did shoot you know Alicia Dixon and and and David Williams and they're all saying like you're already there I can't see how this would get any better and I'm just like what what what is going on like couldn't believe it what is the first thing that you say to your sister sorry was the first thing I said to her because I was just so aware that my life had been changed and feeling like I'm just pulling that rug from under her and and taking the limelight and taking the spotlight off of her.

28:07So sorry was the first thing I said. She was like, don't be daft. And we had a hurrican and then, you know, we had to let the dust settle a bit. I mean, my mum, bless her, I don't know how she coped in the audience watching her daughter, you know, not get through and get four nerves. And then, you know, watching me and getting a golden buzzer. And God knows how she must have felt. She must have just been so, like, pulled apart in terms of how she could be because she wants to be there for her daughter but wants to celebrate with her son. It's like... Yeah, the emotional balance is, yeah, is unreal.

28:41Yeah. And now I'm going to go back and watch. Yeah, yeah, and you'll see it within a different light now. Yeah, absolutely. So, you know, it is 10 years. Yeah. Almost to the week of that audition. Yeah, yeah. So a decade ago. Yeah. Right. When you reflect back now, not just the audition, but the entire experience of Britain's Got Talent. Yeah. What did it mean to you in your career? When I look back now, I mean, it was like the Magic Beans, you know, Jack and the Beans thought kind of situation. It was the moment that changed everything for me. I think had I not had that audition, I'd have probably gone back to Hull, you know, Maroon 4, toured that around.

29:25I'm sure it would have been a success as well. I'm sure we would have done a great job. but I'm not sure I'd be where I'm at.