Jo Whiley: Britain's Got Talent and The Voice make my skin crawl

Jo Whiley at the Brit Awards 2013 (Rex Features)

DJ Jo Whiley has criticised Britain's Got Talent and The Voice - saying that contestants do not know what they are letting themselves in for.

The former Radio 1 DJ said that aspiring stars are unprepared for the consequences of appearing on the ITV1 and BBC1 shows.

She told the Radio Times: "Britain's Got Talent and The Voice make my skin crawl.

"The people who put themselves up for them can't possibly know what it's like to be exposed on TV - how cruel the public and the media are."

She added: "I'd much rather watch a silly old game show than Britain's Got Talent."

Whiley, who now broadcasts on Radio 2, added that she would never compete on Strictly Come Dancing.

She told the magazine: "I couldn't do it to my family and I wouldn't do it to myself. It would be so humiliating. I'd be the comedy contestant."

PA