Gary Barlow’s Let It Shine risks a ratings slump because the Take That star ‘is too NICE’ to hopefuls, says his former boss
LET it Shine risks a slump in ratings because Gary Barlow is too nice, according to Take That’s former manager.
Nigel Martin-Smith, who formed the band in 1990, said the BBC1 talent show needs a nasty judge who can be brutally honest with underperforming wannabes.
Nigel said: “I think artists are naturally supportive of other artists because they know what’s it’s like.
“But the viewer doesn’t care, sat at home watching it saying ‘that’s bloody awful why is everyone saying they were good?’
“I think it suffers, when you do a show with a judging panel that doesn’t do what it says on the tin. If someone comes on and weren’t right and everyone goes ‘oh yeah you were wonderful’, that’s probably why the show’s suffered.”
The music mogul, who is now managing former X Factor boyband Yes Lad, was dubbed the original “nasty Nigel” when he was a judge on Nineties BBC talent show Star for a Night alongside Barbara Windsor for his brutal comments.
On Let It Shine, he added: “I think the show is fantastic. I think for what it is it’s very clever because Gary’s not setting out to find the next Take That.
“But if you look at those sorts of shows the ones that do well you’ve got Simon Cowell being critical, ditto BGT, and Strictly you’ve got Craig Revel Horwood.
“They’re almost like a panto with the villain being the baddy, but also I think you’ve got to have someone being honest.
“I think they need that really and it’s the only thing that doesn’t work for me.”
It comes as West End veteran Matt Thorpe, who has appeared in six musicals and is currently the lead in American Idiot, appears before the judges on Saturday’s show.
Gary, 45, has previously said the auditions are open to everyone, those with experience will help amateurs and has already put novice performers through to the live shows.
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