ITV denies X Factor singer pressure

5:36pm Thursday 21st August 2008

ITV has denied putting pressure on an X Factor contestant to speak on the show about a spate of apparent suicides in her home county.

The television company said that Alexandra Davies, 17, who appeared on Saturday's show, "talked openly and candidly" and had not raised any concerns about her interview.

Alexandra is from Bridgend, south Wales, where 23 young people in or from the county are believed to have killed themselves since January 2007.

She was voted through to the next round on Saturday after singing Eva Cassidy's Fields Of Gold.

The show's host Dermot O'Leary introduced her to viewers by saying: "Alex's hometown of Bridgend hit the press recently after a shocking spate of youth suicides.

"She's hoping that success today might provide some welcome good news for a town that's been living under a cloud."

Alexandra is then shown saying: "Because of all the bad press that Bridgend has been getting lately, I just think that (getting through) would be the good bit of news that we need."

But the teenage hopeful told the Western Mail newspaper references to the suicides were invented after pressurised questioning from the show's producers.

She said: "They thought that up when I said I was from Bridgend. The producers wanted me to talk about it but I didn't want to, just in case I offended someone's family. I would much rather be known for the talent than the girl that comes from the suicide town."

An ITV spokeswoman said: "Alexandra gave a wide ranging interview about issues which were relevant, important and personal to her, which we accurately reflected in the programme. There was absolutely no pressure placed on Alexandra during filming nor did she, or her parents, raise any concerns about her interview."

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