Janet Devlin has slammed the X Factor as “more concerned about headlines” than music.

The former contestant, who came fifth in the show in 2011 behind winners Little Mix, admitted she had not watched the current series but warned Simon Cowell that the show had become like a soap opera.

Janet Devlin
Janet Devlin in February (Andy Kropa/Invision/PA)

Asked what advice she had for Simon as the current series continued to lose viewers, Janet replied: “I think take it back to what it was. I haven’t seen it this year but it’s very gossipy now. It’s more concerned about the headlines and the press.

“When I used to sit down and watch it with my family, it was about, ‘Oh, that person can sing, that person’s good’. It’s like Emmerdale sometimes now. I miss it being a light-hearted, Saturday night in with your take-away show.”

Janet, now 21, was only 16 when she took part in the music competition and admitted she was unprepared at the time for the pressure of the show.

Janet with Misha B and Amelia Lily from the Girls group
Janet with Misha B and Amelia Lily in the Girls group (Joel Ryan/AP/PA)

“Back in the day, I used to be really scared and get panic attacks and really nervous to the point I was bricking myself.

“I cared a lot about what other people thought and I cared too much about messing up. I was making myself ill over it.”

She was mentored by former Destiny’s Child star Kelly Rowland who Janet diplomatically says she was “not besties” with.

“Kelly was grand, she was very extroverted. Sixteen-year-old me was scared of her own shadow, let alone confident around people. We never not got on, but our personalities, you know…” she said.

However, the Wonderful singer said she doesn’t regret the decision as it helped her gain an immediate fan base – the Devlinators – and brought her to the attention of Simon Cowell.

Janet Devlin
Janet was only 16 when she became a finalist on the X Factor (Ken McKay/ITV/PA)

“We did a group Skype and he was brutal, he annihilated everyone and I was sat there waiting and preparing myself, ‘What’s he going say? What have I done wrong?’

“But he was like, ‘No, I like you, you’ve got your own identity, love your voice.’”

“Of course it meant more coming from Simon (than head judge Gary Barlow) because I grew up with him on the show. I would have carried that around for the rest of my life if he didn’t like me,” she said.

Janet will release her Christmas EP December Daze on November 27 and then begin work on her second album, Holy Water.

Janet Devlin
Janet valued Simon’s opinion above Gary Barlow’s (Ian West/PA)

She ruled out collaborating with Adele, who recently released the first listen of her hit Hello during the X Factor’s advert break.

“I’m such an Adele fan, but I couldn’t do that. She’s on God tier and I don’t think I could handle the pressure of working with her.”

But the show has opened up plenty of opportunities for the Irish star, including performing for the Dalai Lama – “He’s so funny” – and performing at Croke Park in Dublin to 85,000 people.