X-Factor bosses ‘stitched me up’17 September 2009
DANCING AMBITIONS: Gurdip Dhillon. AN X-FACTOR contestant who danced on stage when he appeared on the prime time television programme says he was 'stitched up' by the show's producers.
Gurdip Dhillon, 50, of Bronte View, Gravesend, performed a version of Don't Cha, by the Pussycat Dolls, in front of the four celebrity judges.
POP GURU: Simon Cowell. But the married dad-of-two said that producers of the ITV1 show refused two of his song choices and gave him the number one hit by the Pussycat Dolls as his second choice.
Mr Dhillon, whose first choice was Donny Osmond's Twelfth of Never, claims they told him that if he danced on stage, in front of the audience of more than 2,000 people at the ExCel Centre in London, that he would be more likely to go through to the next round of the competition.
The police administration worker, who appeared in episode three of the show, and will also feature on the Xtra Factor, the ITV2 spin off show this Saturday , said: "I got through about two lines of my song, and Simon just said: "Boring." So I had to sing my second song, which was the Pussycat Dolls.
"Before I went on stage, the producers had given me a CD of the Pussycat Dolls. They didn't want me to sing my other choices I had prepared.
"I had only had 10 minutes of listening to it, and I didn't want to sing it. But they told me that if I danced to the song on stage, the judges were more likely to put me through, so that's what I did. I got stitched up."
Mr Dhillon, who practices singing in the bath and on the way to work at the police office in Sidcup, said he had taken three days of holiday from work to attend the early audition stages.
He was auditioned three times, once at the O2, then at the Emirates stadium and finally at the ExCel Centre, where he performed in front of Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole.
His performance saw him get through just a few lines of the song, put his microphone down and perform dance move including one he has named the 'Deep Wave' before he was asked to stop.
Simon was heard saying: "What the hell was that?" and Louis Walsh said: "No, no, no, never."
Mr Dhillon's daughter Karina, 22, came to watch him perform at the audition which was held in June.
He added: "The judges all just said no. It's a singing competition they said, which is fair enough I suppose.
"But I was really annoyed. I was fuming when I came off that stage. Why did they let others sing their song choices, and not me? Then I had to leave, it was over."
Since his appearance on the show, he has been approached by people in Gravesend town centre, and his performance on YouTube has received more than 1,000 views.
He said: "It's unreal, people are recognising me in the street, even though I was on there for a minute or so.
"I will definitely go back next year, so then I might get my chance to sing again."
At the time of going to press, a spokesperson for the X-Factor was unavailable for comment.
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i have had a few downs, so have kept a low profile, best way with me, but i am getting there, 
i get these little hiccups unfortunately
I'll just have to eat them now, but I guess that is ok, because raisins are good for you. 
