'X Factor' to axe "fragile" Shirlena?

Shirlena Johnson could be dropped from The X Factor after it was revealed that that the singer has been diagnosed with serious mental health problems.

Johnson, who made it through her audition on Saturday's show with an arresting rendition of Duffy's 'Mercy', has apparently been described by psychiatric experts as a "ticking timebomb".

It is thought that Johnson's health may affect her ability to care for her 3-year-old daughter Mariah, and that her situation may worsen further if the singer achieves success on the ITV talent show.

According to The Sun, the 30-year-old had not divulged her issues to X Factor producers, who may now be forced to axe Johnson from the rest of the competition and scrap footage of her at Boot Camp.

An X Factor insider said: "Shirlena can no longer be part of the show. We had no idea about any of this as the information was not given to us by Shirlena when she applied.

"We take contestants' welfare extremely seriously. There is no way we would risk anyone's health or wellbeing on what is a very exhausting show."

A medical source revealed that Johnson was "not a well woman" and should be withdrawn from the programme for her own safety.

"Sadly Shirlena is not in the best of health," they said. "She has been described by expert professionals as a 'ticking timebomb'.

"We watched the show on Saturday and - rather than thinking, 'She's so quirky,' like the rest of Britain - it just gave me the shivers.

"We believe this woman is not a suitable candidate for a reality show that can cause immense stress and instant fame."

The medical source compared the East London singer to Susan Boyle, who was admitted to the Priory clinic for exhaustion after "acting strangely" in the hours following her appearance on the Britain's Got Talent final.

"Shirlena is as fragile as Susan Boyle was - but the difference is that Susan didn't have a child to worry about," they said. "Hopefully the makers will agree that the best thing for Shirlena and her child is to gently drop them from filming and let us help her be the best mother she can."

Last night, an X Factor spokesman said: "We're looking into this."

After her performance on Saturday's show, judge Simon Cowell said: "It was like a musical exorcism. I have to say I love you. You're completely crazy, but I like that. You are fantastically nuts."