'X Factor' Katie 'made ex attempt suicide'

Katie Waissel's ex-fiancé has alleged that the X Factor star belittled him to the point where he tried to take his own life.

Gareth Russell, a former tour manager, reportedly said that Waissel mocked his appearance and Northern accent for months, which in turn caused him to overdose on pills in a bid to commit suicide.

He apparently told the News of the World: "She'd call me overweight, fat slob, a fat b**tard, a waste of space. She'd complain that I was 'too Northern' and dressed like 'Northern riff-raff'. This went on pretty much every day."

Russell's suicide attempt is said to have happened in April 2007 after several rows with Waissel, and it was she that took him to hospital. Following his recovery, the two split soon after due to further verbal arguments.

The Bolton-born bar worker, who was once the tour manager for X Factor runner-up Andy Abraham, also reportedly claimed that Waissel used to 'slag off' the talent show she is now competing in.

He added: "She always slated it. She'd say, 'Why are you watching this rubbish? They're all wasters'. She called [the contestants] 'a joke'. And she'd say the judges didn't know what they were talking about."

Russell went on to reveal that he supported Waissel's career during their relationship by introducing her to Simon Cowell's right-hand man Tim Byrne at SyCo Records.

Waissel survived the public vote on last weekend's show after her performance of Louis Prima's 'I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)'.