'Reality TV is brain-crippling'

It seems that Sir Elton isn't a fan of the X Factor...

09:47 20 October 2010

Sir Elton John has hit out at reality TV shows, calling them “brain-crippling” and “boring”.

The veteran singer also slammed modern songwriters, describing them as “pretty awful”.

In an interview for the Radio Times, Sir Elton revealed that he is “not a fan” of reality TV, calling programmes like the X Factor purely “entertainment.”

He also told the magazine that he refused to be a judge on American Idol because he “won’t slag anyone off".

“I'm not a fan of talent shows. I probably wouldn't have lasted if I'd gone on one.

"Also I don't want to be on television. It's become boring, arse-paralysingly brain-crippling. I like Simon Cowell, but what he does is TV entertainment."

Sir Elton added that he admired stars like Lily Allen and Lady Gaga, stressing the importance of working your way up in the music business and writing your own songs:

“Songwriters today are pretty awful, which is why everything sounds the same. Contemporary pop isn't very inspiring.”

The ex-head of Universal Music, Nathan Graves, who has worked with Elton in the past, today applauded his comments, saying:

"Elton's dead right. The mass market fascination with talent show creations is coming to the natural end of its life cycle.

"I think even Simon Cowell is sick of Simon Cowell."