Claims in today’s newspapers suggest that "troubled" Britney Spears turned Saturdays X-Factor in to a "bizarre circus".

The singer is alleged to have ‘snubbed’ the show's contestants by rehearsing in private, and confessing that she hadn’t even listened to them singing her hits.

In one rather humourous, and frankly satisfying, piece of eccentricity it is claimed that Brit’s minders banned perma-tanned wind-bag, Simon Cowell, from meeting the star in her room – as well as only agreeing to pose for a photo with the rest of the shows judges in the hallway.

The "loopiness" (surely "rational and commendable behaviour" - ED) continued later that evening, as after her X-Factor performance the singer "Scarpered" to G-A-Y where for reasons known only to her bad self, she failed to perform despite 1,500 fans chanting her name and given her a cake for her birthday.