James Blunt has taken a swipe at music mogul Simon Cowell by claiming that "X Factor competitions are not really about the music."
Speaking to Guilty Pleasures, Blunt revealed that he is holding open auditions for an unsigned act to support him on a December concert date.
Blunt said, "I've always been part of choosing the support acts that come with me and I enjoy that."
He added: "Anything goes! It doesn't have to be anything like my music at all. It doesn't have to be one man and a guitar, it can be anything. Bands, solo artists, whoever is great. I am up for anything and giving them a chance.
"X Factor competitions are not really about the music. I'm looking for something a bit more genuine."
When asked about his first big break, Blunt said, "Elton John took me out as his support act in my earliest days. My first gig was to 20 people, or something, in North London. And then he took me out and I played to 40,000 people in Ipswich football stadium the next day. That was him giving new musicians an opportunity."
