Barlow 'all right' over losing acts

Gary Barlow has claimed he is “all right” after losing two of his acts from The X Factor, but refused to commit himself to another series.

The singer-songwriter had expressed his bewilderment after Melanie Masson was given the boot from the talent show on Sunday.

He posted a message online saying: “What’s happening out there?”

But during a visit to the Brit School – which counts Adele, Jessie J and Amy Winehouse among its former pupils – the X Factor judge said he was not surprised to lose acts from his over-28s category.

“I’m all right at the moment. I think historically the overs and the bands usually leave first, so we’re in this sort of area right now, where a week on we’re losing acts.

“But I’m confident moving forward,” he insisted.

Barlow described speculation about rows between the judges as “the soap opera of the show”.

He said: “I don’t read the newspapers from this point because of that.

“I think I would be going on every week wanting to apologise or rectify things that have been written.”

The 41-year-old Take That star added that he was delighted with the programme overall.

“More so than ever before, I’m really happy with the show this year,” he said.

“I think the show looks great. I think we’ve got some incredible talent on there.

“It’s going to be a hell of a final. I couldn’t tell you who the finalists will be and who would win. I couldn’t guess.”

But when questioned as to whether he would remain as a judge for another series, he replied: “We don’t even get asked until the New Year.”