Reproduced from Sunday Mail (Scotland) 12 September, 2004

Stock, 53, was one third of the Stock, Aitken and Waterman partnership which spawned hundreds of hits in the late 80s and early 90s.

They made pop idols out of soap stars such as Kylie and pioneered the idea of writing songs for complete unknowns, taking girls such as Sonia to No.1.

The culture they created has spawned Pop Idol-style talent shows.

Mike said: 'We started Pop Idol in a way but it's gone too far because it's not about music now, it's about TV.

'When we took a soap star or unformed girl and made her into a star it was all about making records.

'Now it's about how good the judges look on TV, not the singer. Michelle McManus, the big fat one who won it last time, where is she now? She'll never have another hit.

'It's eating them up and spitting them out to make a TV show. Everyone thought, 'Oh, look, the fat girl won'. That's TV.

'Gareth Gates, Will Young and David Sneddon from Fame Academy - I don't know where any of them are now.'

Mike also blasted the industry judges - former partner Pete Waterman and Simon Cowell - for dishing out severe criticism.

He said: 'Pete and Simon aren't qualified to make comments about singers.

'If they can make some kid look stupid, reduce them to tears, insult them and get them angry, that's good TV.

'You won't hear them say someone's tone is a bit harsh, their pitch is iffy or they're flat on certain notes.

'That sort of thing is helpful for singers but all they get is, 'I don't like your frock'.

'Simon plays Mr Nasty but is actually very nice.

'Pete's TV persona is closer to the real him. He has trouble with his mouth - it can be a long way ahead of his brain. Sometimes he comes over as a bit of a buffoon.'

It's hardly surprising Stock is less than complimentary about Waterman.

Mike claims he and Matt Aitken wrote and produced songs while Pete marketed them. But Pete has claimed he wrote many of their hits, even saying he stole German composer Johann Pachelbel's classical piece Canon for I Should Be So Lucky.

Mike says Pete secretly sold half of the company they co-owned to Warners.

He said: 'I put my blood and sweat into it then it was gone, sold from under me.'

Mike is upset Kylie has never acknowledged his role in launching her career.

He said: 'Kylie said I Should Be So Lucky was the cross she had to bear. I don't know why she felt the need. People told her her indie stuff was good but it didn't sell.'

Aside from spawning Pop Idol, Mike's other major regret is losing Rick Astley.

The singer's first two singles went to No.1 here and in the US - then he quit music.

Mike said: 'He was probably the best British vocal talent in the last 30 years.'

Mike now aims to discover new artists - and one of them could be you.

He said: 'I'm launching a talent search in October. I'll develop singers over a year then launch them.'

* Mike Stock's The Hit Factory is out now on New Holland books, priced £14.99.

ON KYLIE 'don't know why she hit out at Lucky ON RICK 'The best British talent in 30 years ON PETE 'He comes over as a bit of a buffoon ON SIMON 'He plays Mr Nasty but he's very nice