Robbie Williams threw up after being criticised on 'The X Factor'.

Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams

The 44-year-old singer and his wife Ayda Field, 37, have joined the judging panel of the show this year, alongside Simon Cowell and Louis Tomlinson, but Robbie admitted he had a rocky start when he tried to act as Mr Nasty.

He told the Daily Mail's Weekend magazine: "I tried to do the mean judge thing. I said something I thought would be funny, but instead everyone went 'Oooohhh'."

Ayda added: "I said to him, 'Robert Peter Williams. Where did that come from? You're not that person!'"

And Robbie went on: "Then the make-up artist said, 'Why did you say that?' And I got so panicked I went upstairs and threw up.

"It's a big risk, putting yourself on mainstream television every week. For somebody who can put his foot in it - unintentionally - it's a very scary prospect.

"But fun at the same time. It's like walking the tightrope, though there's the fear I'm going to do something that will cause an international incident.

"It's really important people either really love it and us - or they obsessively hate us. And I want the obsessive haters to watch too."

Robbie and Ayda joined the show in a reported £10 million deal but the star says he is "worth more" than he is being paid.

He said: "Do I think I'm worth more? Yes. But I think they got a good deal, and we got a good deal too.

"I was offered Simon's role on the judging panel of 'American Idol', the US version of 'X Factor's predecessor, 'Pop Idol', when he left, and it was for twice the money I'm on now."

However, Simon - who has been asking Robbie to join the panel of the show for years - is thrilled with the deal he has pulled off.

He said: "A very good deal. I was a little nervous before filming started. You never know what the chemistry will be like, how people will react in the chair, but these two took to it like ducks to water.

'We've got our money's worth. Performers look up to Robbie. I think the contestants have upped their game this year, performing for him.

"Ayda's smart. She's funny. She's got a great attitude. I think audiences will love her."

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