Annie Lennox brands music industry 'vile and a bloody nightmare'

Annie Lennox has branded the music industry "vile" and a "bloody nightmare".

The former Eurythmics vocalist withdrew from the spotlight for a while to protect her two teenage daughters - Lola and Tali, from her second marriage to film producer Uri Fruchtmann - from the more fickle elements of fame.

Annie - who has just released a greatest hits album - said: "The music industry is a bl***y nightmare. The egos, the slightly criminal elements, the betrayers, the ones who want to screw you, the ones who were in it for this, that or the other.

"Sometimes I've been so shocked at how vile somebody has been. But you just have to let it go otherwise it could drive you mad."

The 54-year-old singer - who has won a number of accolades including an Oscar, four Grammy awards and a Golden Globe - recently blasted TV talent shows, such as 'The X Factor', for being cruel to pop wannabes.

She said: "They've got this panel of judges and they're supposed to be the God almighty that says this is good, and this isn't good.

"What do they know? Who are they? All those shows are very formulaic."