Richard Hadfield, who won Britain’s Got Talent alongside his former Collabro bandmates in 2014, has hit back at claims that the show is fixed.
There’s been lots of criticism about the fact that many of the contestants actually have a lot of experience.
“Everyone is giving a bit of grief over it’s fake and everything,” he told The Daily Star.
Read more: Collabro hunk breaks silence about his bitter split with BGT group
“But as a singer or actor, you will have done some gigs before but it is never necessarily at a professional level.
“For people to be saying they’re lying about it, I just think it is ridiculous.
“That show completely changes lives.”
Richard caused shockwaves when he quit Collabro just minutes after performing with them at the Britain’s Got Talent final in 2016.
He had reportedly been “unhappy for a long time” and had been “phased out” by fellow band members Jamie Lambert, Matt Pagan, Michael Auger, Matthew Pagan and Thomas J Redgrave.
Read more: OMG! You’ll never believe what Collabro’s Richard looks like now!
“Everyone working with the group could see that some of the boys really made his life difficult,” an insider told The Sun.
“They were furious when producers would ask Richard to record lead vocals instead of them.”
Classically trained Richard is now a solo singer. “I wish them the best,” he said. “It’s a shame it had to end this way but life’s got a funny way of pointing you in the right direction.”
He has been unable to reveal too many details of the split due to a contractual agreement. “I can assure you I am far happier in the direction I am going,” he said.
“I am no longer subject to the politics and manipulation that took place during my time with Collabro.”