Paul McCartney has told The Daily Record in Scotland that, had they had been around, The Beatles would have won The X Factor with both Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh backing them all the way.

Macca continued, 'I think we'd have won it. Seriously. Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh would have been all over us like a wet washcloth.

'If you're talking of The Beatles on 'Love Me Do' – there's doubt. But if you're talking of when we'd developed some of our better songs ,we'd cream 'em.'

Macca made a guest appearance on X Factor last year, singing alongside hopefuls including Joe McElderry, Stacey Solomon, Olly Murrs and Jedward.

However, it seems him enthusiasm may be somewhat misplaced as in 1958, under the name of Johnny And The Moondogs, The Beatles did enter the Carroll Levis Discoveries talent show at the Manchester Hippodrome and came last.