What Really Happened On The X Factor (And Can It Ever Come Back?)

We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson

Tuesday, 20 October 2026 - 2 hours 51 minutes

The X Factor made Lucy Spraggan, Jahméne Douglas and Rak-Su’s Myles Stephenson famous overnight, but what really happened behind the scenes of Simon Cowell’s hit TV show? Years later, they revisit their iconic auditions, the promises of fame and the moments that changed their lives in ways they never expected.

Lucy looks back at a decision that changed the course of her music career, the pressure she faced behind the cameras, and why she feels she lost herself for a decade. Jahméne reflects on having his painful childhood turned into a television storyline, and the struggle of watching millions of people form an opinion of someone he didn't recognise. Myles revisits Rak-Su’s whirlwind rise to fame, Simon Cowell’s plans for the band, and the darker reality of life after winning The X Factor. Together, they reflect on the relationships, manipulation and difficult experiences that shaped their time on the show, questioning how much of what viewers saw was ever real.

Returning to the auditions where it all began, this is a raw and nostalgic look at the true cost of fame, told with the hindsight they never had at the time.

Lucy, Jahméne & Myles, We Need To Talk

This episode includes discussions of domestic abuse and sexual assault. If you or someone you know has been affected, please explore the support resources below and consider donating to help these organisations continue their vital work:

Women’s Aid: https://linkly.link/2xInX

Refuge: https://linkly.link/2xIqZ

MIND: https://linkly.link/2dx8b

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Myles: https://www.instagram.com/mylesraksu

(00:00) Intro
(02:18) X Factor: What We Gained and Lost
(06:15) The X Factor Audition Process
(37:57) Organised Ad
(39:17) Who Owns the Songs?
(45:41) Watching Our X Factor Auditions
(52:32) How X Factor Created Characters
(01:06:11) X Factor Contestant Welfare
(01:14:39) The Truth About the X Factor Judges
(01:23:58) Classism on The X Factor
(01:28:57) X Factor Contracts Explained
(01:30:49) Dealing With the Press
(01:38:26) The Best Moments on X Factor
(01:43:35) Behind the X Factor Final
(01:47:24) Nicole Scherzinger's Mic-Snatch Moment
(01:53:09) Viral X Factor YouTube Clips
(01:55:42) Why Lucy Left X Factor Early
(02:07:51) X Factor Blacklisting and the 'Curse'
(02:16:02) Myles' Life After X Factor
(02:33:21) Life and Future Projects
(02:37:12) Would We Do X Factor Again?
(02:38:28) Should The X Factor Return?
(02:43:27) Paul's Key Takeaways