Sir Cliff Richard has given his thoughts on how to break into the music industry, using One Direction as an example of how winning the X Factor doesn't always mean success.

The boyband were pieced together on the TV talent show in 2010 but they came third overall, with winner Matt Cardle and runner-up Rebecca Ferguson coming ahead of the group.

However, they have become of the X Factor's biggest success stories despite not finishing their series as winners.

Speaking to The Wireless, veteran Richard said that the quality of new vocalists emerging on the scene is very high.

He said: "When you think about it, even the losers on X Factor are good. I mean, they're really good singers these days."

Richard continued: "When you think of One Direction, five of them, they all lost. None of them won X Factor and they're the biggest boyband in the world at the moment."

Speaking more generally meanwhile, the singer added: "I don't think the new groups and young singers have the same support system. Today you can have a number one, [but] if your next record's not number one sometimes they won't re-sign. It's because they don't have the same faith in the artists that my producer and manager, Norrie Paramour and Peter Gormley, had."