Process: The powerful instant Sunday Times bestseller

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A spokesperson for ITV said: “The X Factor was produced by Thames [part of Fremantle] and Syco, who were responsible for duty of care towards all of its programme contributors. ITV is committed to having in place suitable and robust processes to protect the mental health and welfare of programme participants, and we have continued to evolve and strengthen our approach.” We have evolved and improved these oversight procedures since the events in question and we are encouraged to hear that Thames recognises the importance of continuous review and improvement of their own processes. Square peg, round hole. You could see it immediately when Lucy Spraggan stood in front of the judges for the first time for the ninth (2012) edition of The X Factor. In the context of the reality contest, her audition song was also an unconventional choice, an original song no less – Last Night. The judges were charmed if a tad flummoxed – where was the version of an Adele or a Beyoncé song that auditionees usually belted out?

Over the last decade, many people have told me they are aware of what really happened to me while I was competing on the X Factor in 2012 – some very directly. A journalist from Sheffield sat me down in front of a camera in my dressing room before my show for a “relaxed interview” and in the middle of nonchalant questions about what it’s like on the road, and what bands I’m into at the moment, said, “I heard you were raped and that is the reason you left the show.” A man in a London bar once shook my hand and blurted out the exact same sentence, waiting for my response as if he’d just asked me if I was having a good night. In those moments, the story was more important than the fact that I was a human being. Spraggan was a 20-year-old gigging musician when she was scouted by X Factor producers, and she became the first contestant to perform her own songs and play an instrument. Her audition, a song called Last Night, was the world’s fourth most-watched YouTube video of that year, and she became the UK’s most Googled artist. When her X Factor audition went viral in 2012, Lucy became the bookies' favourite to win the show. She was the first contestant ever to write and perform her own original songs, refusing to be pigeonholed by stylists and producers. Viewers fell for her unmanufactured, anti-pop princess stance, and the tabloids loved her. She has a point. Despite the reasonable perception of The X Factor as having been little more than a breeding ground for musical theatre performers, television presenters and Celebrity That and Strictly This appearances, genuine talent occasionally got a look-in. For Spraggan – whose songwriting sits across earthy, confessional pop/folk, and whose sobriety has sharpened her faculties – linking with Cowell is a smart move. “Simon also created the Got Talent television shows across the world,” she says, “which means they have a platform for using songs in Syco’s catalogue. As television is still one of the biggest ways to get music out to people, it’s great for songwriters to have their songs synced and to profit from that via publishing rights.”She said she wanted to make public the reason for her exit at the time but was told it might affect her future career. She also told the Guardian: "It was inappropriate for anybody - including contestants - to be drunk. We have the deepest compassion for Lucy and everything she has endured as a result of this horrific ordeal. We commend her resilience and bravery." Simon Cowell, the creator of The X Factor, said that what happened to Spraggan was “horrific and heartbreaking” ” and that, “when I was given the opportunity to speak to Lucy, I was able to personally tell her how sorry I was about everything she has been through. Although we met under tragic circumstances, a genuine friendship and a mutual respect has developed between us. Lucy is one of the most authentic, talented and brave people I have ever met. I have always supported her wish to tell her story as well as her efforts to bring about positive change.” This book made me bawl my eyes out on more than one occasion + gave me goosebumps multiple times. Thank you Lucy for opening your heart to us and sharing your story🖤

A brutally honest, intimate read about many if not all the experiences that shaped the extremely talented songwriter that captured the attention of millions (including this reader) when she appeared on The X Factor in 2012. Long time listener and follower, so learning quite literally the Process, with all it's ups and downs was not only really enjoyable to line up with the music I've listened to for years, but also brought a huge sense of honor. It was a privilege to be invited in to every nook and cranny (some funny and so relatable it had me laughing out loud, some utterly devastating it brought tears to my eyes) that goes into the music, as well feeling like I'm receiving a lovely dose of life advice from a big sister in a "do as I say, not as I do" vibe. Although she wanted to make public the reason for her exit from The X Factor, she said various people told her: “You have your whole career ahead of you and you can’t retract this.”The X Factor UK (25 August 2012), Lucy Spraggan's audition - Last Night - The X Factor UK 2012 , retrieved 13 May 2019 ITV as a commissioning broadcaster is committed to having in place suitable and robust oversight procedures, with a view to ensuring that independent producers employ the correct processes to protect the mental health and welfare of participants. He said:] ‘Lucy, before you or I say anything else, the first thing I need to tell you is that I am sorry’,” she explained, beginning to get upset (via Metro). “It makes me emotional…because no one else said sorry. He wasn’t even on [the show during] my year – he wasn’t even a judge – and he as a human being gave me everything I needed in two words.” November 2014 Spraggan showcased new music she'd been working on since The X Factor. On 17 January via Facebook she announced the title of her second studio album titled We Are, which was released on 4 May 2015, and the first single "Unsinkable" released on 12 March 2015. Following the album's release Spraggan embarked on "The Unsinkable Tour". In 2015, Spraggan wrote and sang the "catchy" lyrics for the TV advert for online fashion store Simplybeyou. Later in 2015 Spraggan was signed to CTRL Records. On 3 February 2016 Spraggan announced, via social media, that her new EP would be called Home and due to be released on 9 February. The EP contained 3 new songs called "Home", "Yes, This One's for You" and "Skylights". It also included a new version of "Tea and Toast" which explained the story behind the song. Smith, Carl. "Lucy Spraggan Announces debut Album 'Join the club' and single 'last night' ". Sugarscape.com . Retrieved 28 August 2013.

She was voted through the first three live shows before leaving the competition – apparently because of illness. She added "now, I’m in a strong enough place to talk publicly about what really happened for the first time" and expressed hopes for the industry to change, including for reality TV production companies to allocate budget to longterm mental health schemes.The musician came forward with her story earlier this week, and revealed that she was sexually assaulted by a hotel porter in 2012. X Factor's Lucy Spraggan proposes to girlfriend Georgina on day her single comes out", Mirror Online, 13 April 2015

Although we met under tragic circumstances, a genuine friendship and a mutual respect has developed between us. Lucy is one of the most authentic, talented, and brave people I have ever met. Since we connected, I have had the honour to work with Lucy and I have always supported her wish to tell her story, as well as her efforts to bring about positive change.”

Did she feel that she didn’t match The X Factor’s commercially strategic view of what pop stars should be like? Too right, she did. Was she too niche for such a crowd-pleasing audience? Too right, she was. It is, she admits, a much bigger topic to chat about right now (she goes into it in lengthier detail in her forthcoming memoir, Process), but she says she played the game somewhat more than she might have thought. One of my favourite things about this book is the inclusion of song lyrics and where Lucy was in her life when she wrote specific songs. I have loved her music since the beginning but hearing the reasons behind some of the lyrics makes it extra special.