'The X Factor traumatised me – but this is why I'm sad it was axed'

Despite enduring one of the worst things a person could experience during her time on The X Factor, Lucy Spraggan explained why it is unfortunate that the programme was axed. The singer, 33, shot to fame when she appeared on series nine of the ITV competition in 2012, winning the audience over with her original song, Last Night. Lucy sailed through to the live shows, but was forced to withdraw during week five. While it was not known why Lucy decided to leave the competition at the time, she revealed the truth more than a decade later.

In her memoir, Process, Lucy revealed the reason she quit was because she was sexually assaulted by a hotel porter after a night out. Lucy, who was 20 at the time, had been out in central London celebrating the 25th birthday of fellow contestant Rylan Clark. The singer was escorted back to the hotel by a member of the production team when a hotel porter offered to take her to her room. The man then let himself into Lucy's room and assaulted her. In an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, Lucy explained why she decided to waive her right to anonymity after more than 10 years.

She told us: "I just didn’t want to keep having to hide it. But also there was a public gallery in the court and the press knew everything about it so it was a constant battle with people trying to get that story out of me.

"I was bored of it so I decided to do it on my own terms which was two and a half years of writing a book." Despite the harrowing experience she endured, Lucy explained that The X Factor no longer being on means up-and-coming singers won't get an opportunity to break into the industry.

The star said: "In some ways it sucks because the music industry is full of generational privileged people who are connected. The music industry is quite clicky and expensive to be a part of so I do think that shows like The X Factor offered working class people a route into an industry that they wouldn’t have necessarily have gotten into before. But it comes with its troubles.

"In some ways it’s sad because we will be missing talent and tomorrow's superstars."

Despite being happy about that point in her life being in the past, Lucy admitted she wouldn't change it.

The star explained: "I'm quite glad to be away from that stage of my life. It’s one of those things. It very crazy and obviously my story is different to a lot of other people’s because it got so f****d up at some points.

"But I wouldn’t change it, which is a weird thing to say. I’m so happy where I am right now and that takes a lot of spiritual work anyway. But I am. I’m happy in my life and with all the people I’m surrounded by, and that wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for The X Factor."

The conversation turned to Liam Payne – the former One Direction star who died after falling from a balcony in Argentina last October. The singer was always open about the pressures of fame, which contributed to his substance abuse.

Lucy agreed: "Most of these horrendous things that happen to people are closely related to fame. Fame is the most traumatic thing I’ve ever been through and I’ve been through some traumatic things.

"But being famous, when I reflect on what has possibility damaged my mental health the most was that period of time on The X Factor where I was just everywhere. All of a sudden I went from absolutely nobody knowing me to everyone in the country knowing me."

Lucy added: "Liam experienced that over a period of time over more of a decade. I can’t even put myself anywhere near what that must have been like for the rest of the boys."

She concluded: "I think people that survive that kind of fame are warriors."

In May, Lucy released her new single The Lesson – a heartfelt track that sees the performer return to her roots in storytelling.

Speaking about the track, Lucy said: "My writing travels with me through life and, sadly, I have learnt a lot more about loss in my thirties. The Lesson is a song about losing a parent, which thankfully I haven’t had to endure in the traditional sense. Though through parental estrangement and the loss of a few dear people over the last few years I was inspired to write this song.

"I have a lot of love for this song as it is moving back into the position of storytelling, like my older songs, rather than first person observational narrative as the more recent writing."

Lucy is now preparing for the release date for her highly-anticipated album, Other Sides Of The Moon. The album features a number of iconic tracks, including her debut hit Tea & Toast, Sober featuring Robbie Williams and the more recently released Run, Butterflies and Unsinkable.