ONE of Oxford’s favourite TV talent show contestants has backed the producers of the competitions after they were accused of being humiliating.

TV talent show The X Factor has hit the headlines for the wrong reasons recently when viewers reacted badly to the treatment of contestant Ceri Rees.

The tone-deaf Mrs Rees had previously appeared on the show in 2005, 2006 and 2008, and was reportedly “hounded” by producers to reappear on the show, only to be rejected by the judges.

And X Factor contestant Goldie Cheung walked out this week for fear she might be used as a joke act and become a laughing stock.

But producers say they take care of their contestants’ wellbeing.

And Fabia Cerra, from Greater Leys, who shot to fame after her burlesque dance on Britain’s Got Talent, backs them up.

She said: “If you go on there you know what to expect. If you have not got a thick skin to be in showbusiness then you shouldn’t be there.

“You have got to take it on the chin because people judge you before they know you. I don’t think they humiliate people on purpose.

“Goldie was fantastic. I love reality TV and I am glad I did what I did. I have come far.”

But ‘Big John’ Humphries from Abingdon, a perennial contestant on The X Factor, backed the criticism.

He said: “I did feel sorry for Ceri a bit. The X-Factor has changed quite a bit. The judges are pretty firm. ”

Mr Humphries made his first appearance on the X-Factor in 2004 when he sang Eye of the Tiger and has never got past the audition stage.

Despite this the 56-year-old says he will continue to apply for both talent shows.

Emily Pryor, a spokesman for production company Talkback Thames which is behind The X-Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, said: “The welfare of our contestants is of paramount importance.

“During the audition process we have psychologists on hand to provide expert opinion if we have any specific concerns or if the contestant raises any issues.”