AUTISTIC SINGER CONTROVERSY.

Byline: JEREMY ARMSTRONG

THE family of an autistic singer who cracked under the pressure of X Factor's boot camp believe he was eliminated to avoid a repeat of the Susan Boyle controversy. Scott James, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, forgot the words during a performance watched by 8.9 million viewers.

It emerged yesterday the 22-year-old had suffered a series of panic attacks before failing to make the final 24.

The Irish Daily Mirror told earlier this month how Scott spent seven years as a recluse, refusing to leave his home in Stockton-on-Tees for fear of being bullied.

He has only overcome his phobias to record and practice his singing.

His family and friends believe ITV bosses took the decision to pull him from the show in case he cracked up under the even more intense media spotlight of the finals - just like "SuBo".

The Scottish spinster spent time in a London clinic following her incredible rise to worldwide fame in Britain's Got Talent.

Scott's show-stopping performance at the X Factor auditions in Manchester stunned all four judges and earned him a place in the final 50.

But judges decided he had to leave the competition.

His singing coach Linzi Hunter said: "There were one or two problems during boot camp and I think they were worried about ending up with a repeat of what happened with Susan Boyle.

"He is disappointed, but he is already thinking about what to do next."

CAPTION(S):

HIDDEN TALENT Scott James