Dancing on Ice star Chico Slimani has claimed that X Factor contestants ruin their chance of success by taking themselves too seriously.
The singer, who finished fifth on the show back in 2005, admitted that he successfully capitalised on his reputation as a novelty act and cited Jedward as a similar example.
"People take themselves too seriously and forget to be real. If opportunity presents itself on The X Factor, there's a timescale in which you can do it, because next year you have got another lot and nobody remembers," Slimani told The Sun.
"After 'Chico Time', I worked with some guys who wrote the song 'Hero' for Enrique Iglesias and worked with Ricky Martin. I wanted to go down that route, but my management saw something different. They wanted it to be completely cheesy and I had no choice in the matter.
"I look at X Factor as a window of opportunity and a platform," Slimani continued. "I took that ball and ran with it. You have to make hay while the sun shines. I did well out of it. I would never want to forget 'Chico Time'. You can get delirious if you take life too seriously.
"Look at Jedward. They have done amazingly and have fantastic management. I say to people that it is a conveyor belt, but if you have the machine behind you then you are cooking on gas."
Slimani added that he plans to release two albums he recently recorded, and wants the public to have a "different perception" of him after his Dancing On Ice stint.
Slimani was originally a stand-on for Dancing On Ice and replaced Chesney Hawkes after he suffered a severe ankle sprain and a fractured fibula while training.
