Black singers don't go far enough on the X Factor UK because the viewing public is racist, Hollywood actor Chris O'Dowd has suggested.
O'Dowd, 34, who shot to fame on The IT Crowd, has told the Radio Times that he was a big X Factor fan.
But the Irish star added: "Generally my favourites go out in the first few weeks and, of course, because the viewing public is so racist, all the black, strong singers go out in round five every year."
Last year, X Factor contestant Hannah Barrett revealed that she has been subjected to "horrible, racist comments" during her stint on the reality talent show.
She told Reveal magazine: "I've received a lot of horrible, racist comments on Twitter. People say I'm too dark to be a singer.
"People say: 'You're black and ugly' and nasty things like that....The sad thing is that most of them are made by black people who just have lighter skin than me.''
Hallelujah singer Alexandra Burke became the first black contestant to win the show in 2008, while Leona Lewis, who triumphed in 2006, has a black father and white mother.
O'Dowd starred in the 2012 Australian film The Sapphires. The movie tells the story of an all-female Aboriginal singing group in 1968 who overcame prejudice at home to achieve succes that included touring Vietnam to entertain American troops.
Last year, O'Dowd spoke about a common thread between the indigenous Australian community and his own Irish heritage.
"I was really surprised by how similar Aboriginals and Irish people are, like in their mentality, particularly coming from that time," O'Dowd said in an interview with AP, noting both the Aboriginals and the Irish were fighting against oppression in their native lands.
