The X Factor winner Sam Bailey has revealed how the show put "pressure" on her 10-year marriage.

The former prison officer and mother-of-three, who was crowned the champion on the 2013 series, admitted she was banned from spending the night with husband Craig after sailing through to victory.

"The hardest thing was not being able to see my family as and when I wanted. Worst of all, even after I'd won the show, I wasn't even allowed to spend the night with Craig," she said in her autobiography Daring To Dream, serialised in the Daily Mirror.

"He was the one person I wanted to celebrate with more than anyone. He was absolutely livid because he hadn't had a chance to see me and was almost in tears. As soon as I left the stage, I was whisked off to do interviews and Craig was left stranded."

Sam, who has three children with Craig, continued: "Craig was really angry they hadn't got to see me properly. I phoned him and I kept saying to him, 'It's only a week and then I'll be home. Just hang in there'.

"When we did finally get to see each other, X Factor wanted to film our 'emotional reunion' so we couldn't really relax properly.

"The show definitely put pressure on our relationship but things are so much better since. Having that time apart made us appreciate each other more than ever."

The 37-year-old singer, who was mentored by Sharon Osbourne on the show, said she often felt lonely during her time on The X Factor.

"Towards the end of the competition, I felt pretty lonely. It was devastating saying goodbye to the kids after each live show. I missed them like mad," she revealed. "On top of that, the pressure was immense."