Former 'X Factor' finalist Niki Evans has claimed that the ITV show is "ageist" and doubts a woman over the age of 25 will ever win.
The Press Association reports that 36-year-old Evans said: "I will eat my hat if an over-25 woman ever wins 'The X Factor'."
She continued: "Age is a horrible, horrible thing to have to go through. But I was very lucky, touch wood.
"I'd be very surprised if an over-25 woman ever won it. It's not just ageist, it's sexist as well, because you get the little cute boys, and since the four age groups have come in - because it's over-25s, it's groups, under-25 boys and under-25 girls - since that, it's got much, much worse because you're getting twice the amount of young people coming through."
Evans, who has starred in the West End since her appearance on the show in 2007 and who has just released a cover of Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love', also claimed that the new live audience audition format on 'The X Factor' made it easier for contestants.
"It's a lot easier now, isn't it?" she said. "You get backing tracks, you get a big audience, so I don't think it's as scary as walking into one room with four people staring at you with no music, so I think it's a lot easier these days."
