Sam Bailey thinks Simon Cowell prefers last year's 'The X Factor' runner-up Fleur East over winner Ben Haenow.

Sam Bailey

Sam Bailey

The 2013 winner of the ITV talent show has slammed the 55-year-old music mogul for giving the runner up - who is signed to his Syco record label - more extravagant clothing and equipment than Ben on the 'X Factor' tour in a bid to make her "the next big thing".

Sam said: "I felt sorry for Ben on the 'X Factor' tour. Fleur opened the show and had amazing outfits, pyrotechnics, dancers and big performances. Then Ben went on at the end and it was an anti-climax. It's obvious they are pushing Fleur to be the star.

"Simon can see where the money is going to come from and will make sure Fleur is the next big thing."

Meanwhile, the 'Skyscraper' singer also had a dig at new judge Rita Ora, insisting she doesn't know what it's like to try and make it as a pop star.

She told The Sun newspaper: "It's not that I don't like Rita, I just don't think she has enough experience to tell me what I already know.

"Rita hasn't been on the pub circuit, she went to drama school and was groomed to be famous before she left."