A FORMER X Factor contestant has slammed the show's bosses for using auto-tuning technology.

Annick Zebihi, known as Zyta, was a semi-finalist in 2007 but missed out on the live finals after being booted off the show at Louis Walsh’s house in Dublin.

The 43-year-old fears people will think she is fake and cannot sing after it was revealed the show used technology to improve contestant’s voices.

Miss Zebihi, of Bromley Road, Downham, said: “I am so shocked and upset.

“I’m working hard every day to get a record deal and now they have destroyed everything.”

She added: “People are mocking and laughing at me saying ‘hahaha we know you can’t sing you have been miming’.

“I can sing. People now think it’s all fake and it’s not fair.”

Miss Zebihi’s 21-year-old son died in 2003 after being hit by a drunk driver in Africa.

She said: “I’m still grieving for my son. I’m a single mum and I just want a better life for my two kids.

“Its really hard in this business and it’s not easy for people over 40. This is going to make it even harder.”

An X Factor spokesman said: “It is important to stress we do not use, and never have used, audio technology which would unfairly reflect any singer’s original performance on The X Factor.

“In line with standard television practice, sound processing filters are used to remove background noise on our pre-recorded shows. Quite simply, you can’t make a bad singer a good singer.”