Singer Will Young, who rose to fame after winning Pop Idol, has taken a dig at vocal talent contests saying they're moving toward something more sinister. 

The star told the Radio Times that he's concerned with how the producers of these types of shows are edging towards manipulating viewers:

"Programme-makers are only ever concerned with creating great TV shows. The danger now is that they could become something more cynical and manipulative that moves into the realm of hoodwinking the public."

Despite the negative side that Young claims is taking over, he did add that he took away a great experience from winning Pop Idol in that it forced people to "look at what their prejudices might be":

"Pop Idol made people look at what their prejudices might be. So if they voted for this guy all along - they liked him, felt passionate about him, got caught up in the TV show - then suddenly, do they have to think, 'Oh, well I'm not gonna buy his music because he's gay?'"

Watch his video for 'Jealousy' here: