X Factor star claims ITV refused to launch probe into hellish treatment

Former X Factor star Rebecca Ferguson has taken aim at ITV, as she claimed that its CEO 'refused to launch a probe' into the broadcaster's treatment of its reality stars.

Rebecca, who appeared on The X Factor in 2010, has often been outspoken about her experience on the reality show, which she describes as "hellish".

She says she wrote to the channel two years ago and asked them to review their code of conduct for reality stars appearing on ITV, following the deaths of three Love Island stars, including presenter Caroline Flack, who took their own lives.

Rebecca said that she had also spoken to other ITV reality stars who had raised concerns about ITV's treatment and after-care of its stars.

But she told MailOnline that CEO Dame Carolyn McCall didn't deal with her concerns directly, and instead passed them on to a deputy – the broadcaster's chief operating officer Sarah Clarke – who responded to Rebecca to inform her that an inquiry would not be going ahead.

The response from Sarah outlined that ITV do have a "duty of care" process for their stars, and apologised to Rebecca for any distress she experienced whilst on The X Factor.

Rebecca has now appealed to the chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage, to launch an inquiry.

ITV provided a lengthy statement to OK! which said: "ITV is committed to having in place suitable processes to protect the mental health and welfare of programme participants."

In Rebecca's letter she wrote that during her time on The X Factor she both "experienced" and "witnessed" what she called "terrible foul play from a number of directions."

She also said that she wanted to "help change the future for artists/contestants" because she "doesn't want them to go through what I went through".

Later on in Rebecca's letter, she said: "Some of my experiences in some ways are unbelievable and I would not wish this on anyone".

Rebecca said she was under "several" non-disclosure agreements after appearing on ITV.

In their statement ITV insisted they had "continued to evolve and strengthen our approach" over the past few years and that while "procedures will differ from programme to programme" the management of the participant welfare in each programme "must sit with the producers themselves".

They then outlined guidelines that producers must follow, including support leading up to, during and after a programme.

Referring directly to Rebecca, ITV said: "In our correspondence with Rebecca, we stressed that the welfare of participants is of the highest priority at ITV as reflected in our Duty of Care Charter and the detailed guidance, introduced in 2019, we now have available for all producers, to ensure that the welfare of participants is adequately safeguarded on all our programmes.

"ITV responded to Rebecca with information provided to us by the producers, detailing their arrangements regarding welfare, aftercare, legal advice, and management, at the time of her participation."

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