X Factor judge: I threatened to quit for Jackie

Daniel Bedingfield says he threatened to quit The X Factor over Jackie Thomas' elimination. Photo / Chris Loufte

Daniel Bedingfield has revealed that he threatened to quit The X Factor when the show's winner was eliminated earlier in the competition.

Jackie Thomas won the hit TV3 reality show last night, beating out fellow finalists Whenua Patuwai and Benny Tipene to the top spot.

But Thomas didn't have an easy road to the finals: She was eliminated earlier in the competition when nerves got the better of her after the boot camp round.

Bedingfield, who mentored Thomas throughout the show, revealed after last night's finale that he had threatened to quit the show over Thomas' elimination.

"I went up to he producers and I said, 'I want to quit, I feel like I've just sold my soul, I don't believe in the show and I'm done'.

"If we're kicking out people like this then that's the reason I hate TV shows."

A public outcry sparked a social media campaign to have the 22-year-old singer from Greymouth returned to the show.

She went on to win seven of the show's 10 competitive rounds, including last night's finale, which was based on public votes.

Thomas revealed that she didn't like reliving her elimination, and she thought she was a "completely different person" since returning to the show.

"I don't even like to think about that. After that first live show, that's when I thought 'Okay, I can do this'."

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- nzherald.co.nz