Barlow sees X Factor’s Janet as threat, says mum
The popstar judge has dubbed the 17-year-old Irish girl’s performances “boring” and “predictable” in recent weeks.
But her mother Patricia Devlin said she believes his critical comments are part of a tactic to boost his own acts as Janet has been one of the frontrunners on the show.
She said on the Ray D’Arcy Show: “Some of the times it is OK and you can say ‘Right they are the professionals and they know what they’re talking about’.
“Of late weeks I think it is not just professionalism, I think it is tactical. I think even Louis said to Gary last weekend that it was not really how Janet does and that she was a threat to his boys.
“I think he might have something in that.”
But she said her daughter takes all the criticism in her stride despite only celebrating her 17th birthday last weekend.
She said: “In relation to what Gary said, she said any criticism is good and it is something you can build on, and that’s the way she takes it.”
The Tyrone mum said she is a bag of nerves all week in the run-up to her only daughter’s performance on the show.
She said: “I’m very nervous. Every week is the same, you’re relieved on Sunday night and the rest of the week you’re wondering again what the song is going to be and how she will perform.
“I talk to her mostly every day. Sometimes you may not get her at all because she could just be so busy in the studio or rehearsing.
“She is the only girl in our house so we do miss her. I think it is affecting us more than it is affecting her to be honest. She is enjoying the experience,” she added.
And she rubbished reports of a rift between Janet and new contestant Amelia Lily as pundits believe the pink-haired singer is the biggest threat to Janet.
She said: “I think the two of them get on really well and they had done before Amelia was put out.”
And she said her daughter is quite content with the song choice for this week’s theme of movie night.
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