X Factor: Vulnerable Ceri Rees hounded by producers, just to be humiliated on TV

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Judge Gary Barlow rifled Ceri Rees’ handbag in humiliating scenes cut from X Factor

X FACTOR judge Gary Barlow was slammed last night for humiliating fragile Ceri Rees in scenes cut from Sunday night's show.

The Take That star had watched her perform three songs during an agonising 15 minutes on stage.

Gary, 40, then sat with widow Ceri on the stage steps, and after asking why her handbag was so important to her, went through it.

He stunned the audience by pulling out her passport. Gary held it up and mocked Ceri saying: "A passport? Well you won't be needing this." He then looked at the audience for laughs.

But his "joke" backfired, and fans, furious 54-year-old Ceri was being ridiculed, began booing.

Last night Ceri's angry family threatened legal action claiming she was bullied and humiliated on the show. Audience member Ashlei Swain, 26, a hairdresser from Ceri's hometown of Bridgend, was at the audition in Cardiff.

He watched as Ceri performed a Mariah Carey number along with the Whitney Houston and Les Miserables songs shown on Sunday night. Ashlei said: "It was so painful to watch. It went on for ages. Then after she'd finished Gary got up and sat with her.

"She had her handbag so Gary was going on about why it was so special. He started rifling through it and found her passport. He held it up and mocked her and tried to get the audience to laugh with him. But people were booing." Gary had already embarrassed Ceri by mocking her pronunciation of Les Miserables. Show chiefs left that in, but cut the passport scene.

They still screened an incredible seven minutes of her painfully bad audition.

When shown on Sunday, the audition had the Jaws theme playing in the background. Ceri was left sobbing afterwards.

It was her fourth year on X Factor and her treatment has sparked outrage among fans, celebs and mental health charities.

Her family claim she was harassed into going back on the show. And friends say she was lured with the promise of free hotels and train tickets.

Ceri's brother Michael Martin is now planning the legal action.

A family friend said: "He has been to see a solicitor. The family accept that Ceri was not forced to go on. But the programme makers have a responsibility to ensure that contestants are mentally and physically fit enough to take part."

Ceri's friend, vocal coach Amanda Roberts, 40, said: "The X Factor may think she was good television but they didn't give a thought for poor Ceri. She has been left dreadfully upset."

But Xtra Factor host Caroline Flack defended producers. She said: "I don't think X Factor would put someone in front of the camera on purpose if they were ill. Psychologists test out all contestants."

And a pal of Gary's claimed he was being nice. The friend said: "When he saw Ceri's passport he joked she shouldn't have needed it to get into Wales. He gave Ceri a hug." An ITV spokeswoman said Ceri was happy with how she was portrayed, adding: "The welfare of contestants is of paramount importance."

I think it's just disgraceful that they get away with doing this to that poor woman. In fact, it does make you wonder just how often they do this, and if it will also happen in the new US version.

For those wondering, this is the audition in question.
[video=youtube;c1RqF0oa9IE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1RqF0oa9IE[/video]