Lucy Spraggan, Jahmène Douglas and Myles Stephenson have reflected on the opportunities, trauma and lasting impact of appearing on The X Factor.For millions of viewers, The X Factor was Saturday-night entertainment: a search for the next big musical star, but for those who stepped onto its stage, the experience could come at a far greater personal cost.In a revealing conversation with Paul C Brunson on the first of his We Need To Talk Full Circle roundtable episode, the former contestants reflected on why they think its approach to welfare would need a fundamental overhaul before any potential return.The former X Factor stars have had their say on how they experienced the show which has received backlash in recent years with claims of ‘abuse and bullying’.X Factor boss Simon Cowell addressed the criticism on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, saying: ‘We’ve always tried, as much as we can, to look after our artists.’Six acts who appeared on the show formally complained about the production and were said to be considering a £1million lawsuit against Simon’s company.While the ITV talent show aimed to give contestants a platform into the industry, Jahmène said he feels that the show hindered his music career. Lucy Spraggan, Jahmène Douglas and Myles Stephenson have reflected on the opportunities, trauma and lasting impact of appearing on The X Factor For millions of viewers, The X Factor was Saturday-night entertainment: a search for the next big musical star, but for those who stepped onto its stage, the experience could come at a far greater personal cost (Lucy on the show in 2012)Jahmène said that while he gained prominence on the show, it did not help him in the long-run with his career prospects.’Fame. My Career. Fame. I lost my music career, I would say. Well it didn’t… it hindered my music career I would say,’ he said.’I realised afterwards, in hindsight that it’s not a music show. It kind of is but it’s reality TV. It’s the stories they’re selling, the people that they’re selling, not really selling the singer and the artist. And it reflects in how the artist is treated during the show and after the show, I would say.’Behind Jahmène’s nervous appearance during his 2012 audition lay a family history far removed from the narrative viewers saw on screen.He explained that before joining the programme, his family had experienced domestic abuse and had been placed in witness protection. After losing his older brother and living under restrictions that included changing names and avoiding social media, he felt increasingly determined to reclaim control over his life and the X Factor became a way of doing that.’I just wanted to take the control back,’ he said. He wanted to show his siblings that it was possible to face something frightening and get through it.For Jahmène, stepping onto the stage was about breaking free from a life in which he had felt confined and hidden. He did not expect to progress far in the competition; the act of auditioning was itself an achievement. In a revealing conversation with Paul C Brunson on the first of his We Need To Talk Full Circle roundtable episode, the former contestants reflected on why they think its approach to welfare would need a fundamental overhaul before any potential return The former X Factor stars have had their say on how they experienced the show which has received backlash in recent years with claims of ‘abuse and bullying’But he believes the programme reduced his complex personal circumstances to a television storyline.’The show will reduce all of that into a sob story,’ he said. ‘I mean, it’s my life.’Whilst Lucy believes she gained the opportunity to create something she didn’t have but ‘lost herself’ for a decade, though came out the other side better. She said: ‘I gained an extraordinary once in a lifetime opportunity to create something that I didn’t have. Um, being, you know, my career, who I am. ‘The way I perceive the world and the way I’m perceived. And I lost myself for about a decade. [Paul: ‘A decade?’] yeah.’Lucy was on the X Factor for about 10 weeks in 2012, from her televised audition on August 25 until she withdrew on November 3.She performed in the first three live weeks and missed the fourth because of what was initially reported as illness. Lucy’s grandmother died while she was competing in 2012 and Lucy said she returned from the funeral without wanting to discuss what had happened, only to face repeated questions from production staff about her week.Eventually, she recalled, someone directly asked whether her grandmother had died.She described becoming overwhelmed and unable to speak. Later, just before a live performance, she saw the news of her grandmother’s death included in her televised introduction. Myles competed on the show in 2017 in his band Rak-Su who won the competition While the ITV talent show aimed to give contestants a platform into the industry, Jahmène said he feels that the show hindered his music careerLucy said she felt she had been confronted with her grief at the very moment she was expected to perform for millions of people.For her, the incident formed part of a wider experience that she described as an ‘abusive relationship’ with the programme.She alleged that contestants’ food, movements, access to family and daily routines were tightly controlled, leaving them with little privacy or independence.X Factor have previously said: ‘Duty of care is of the utmost importance to us and we always take contributor welfare extremely seriously.’The spokesperson said that during the 2010 series, measures included a dedicated welfare team of psychologists, doctors, welfare producers and independent legal and management advisers, with no time limit on aftercare following broadcast.’These measures were under constant review and we have always been proactive in adapting and updating them for future series to reflect the requirements of the show.’One of the most serious revelations concerned Lucy’s departure from the competition.In 2012, viewers were told that she was leaving because she was unwell. She has since spoken publicly about being sexually assaulted by a hotel porter while taking part in the show.In the interview, Lucy recounted how she had become heavily intoxicated at a birthday celebration for fellow contestant Rylan Clark and was helped back to her room. She said she was unconscious when the assault occurred.According to her account, Rylan later checked on her and discovered that her door was not properly secured. She credited his actions with helping ensure that the hotel porter could be identified by police. In a revealing conversation with Paul C Brunson on the first of his We Need To Talk Full Circle roundtable episode, the former contestants reflected on why they think its approach to welfare would need a fundamental overhaul before any potential returnLucy described being rushed away the following morning, while the police were contacted. She said the porter was arrested and subsequently convicted, receiving a 13-year prison sentence.The assault, she explained, had consequences extending far beyond the immediate incident. She said she was at high risk of HIV exposure and had to consider taking medication to reduce that risk.Meanwhile, the public explanation for her departure remained that she was ill.Lucy recalled that people subsequently approached her in the street, accusing her of wasting her opportunity because of drinking or a hangover. ‘I was too busy just being in it,’ she said, reflecting on how difficult it had been at the time to process what had happened.Lucy also said she received no subsequent contact from the programme after the final, despite having returned to participate in the finale.The experience, she believes, contributed to years of professional and personal difficulty.Now on her ninth album, she described gradually developing a loyal fanbase through small venues, growing her audiences one performance at a time.For Lucy, reclaiming her story has become part of reclaiming her music.With rumours of a potential revival, the conversation turned to whether the programme still has a place in modern television.Jahmene said a return would require a complete overhaul, including greater honesty about the type of artists the show intends to develop.He argued that the programme should not encourage singers from genres it cannot adequately support, suggesting that contestants need a platform capable of helping them grow beyond the televised competition.Myles was more sceptical. He questioned whether television producers could provide the level of care required in an era when social media can magnify both fame and criticism.He also challenged the assumption that contestants need a primetime television appearance to succeed, pointing to independent releases and platforms such as TikTok as alternative routes into the music industry.Lucy, meanwhile, believes there could still be a place for a reimagined talent show.But she emphasised the importance of education, therapy and safeguarding, alongside a more realistic understanding of the music business.