Singer/songwriter Jake Bugg has branded U.S. Tv talent search American Idol a "dream smasher" after meeting heartbroken hopefuls during an appearance on the show.

The Lightening Bolt hitmaker has been outspoken in his criticism of reality shows and has publicly feuded with former The X Factor contestants One Direction.

He performed on American Idol earlier this year (14) and he has now spoken out to slam the show's bosses for the way contestants are treated, labelling the programme "cruel" because of its impact on rejected hopefuls.

Bugg tells BBC Newsbeat, "It was quite sad. We went on just before they said to the contestant 'Yeah you're not through' and she was really heartbroken. It's cruel. It's like, 'Thanks for coming on the show but you'll never get a record contract'. It's the dream smasher, that's what it is, the dream smasher."