Joe Bonamassa

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Is Cher Lloyd acting like a diva already?

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Under pressure: A strained Cher Lloyd pops out of rehearsals in London's Covent Garden this afternoon

The live X Factor shows haven't even begun yet and it looks like the fame may already be going to the head of teen contestant Cher Lloyd.

The 17-year-old hopeful was accompanied by two assistants and covered by a pashmina as she popped out of rehearsals to get some money out of a cashpoint yesterday.

While most people try to protect their pin number while withdrawing cash, perhaps hiding the top half of her body and the whole ATM itself is going a bit far.

On the go: Cher took time out of rehearsals for her first live performance on Saturday night's show

Looking pale and thin in a pair of grey skinny jeans, leather jacket, scarf and boots, the aspiring singer looked nervous as she walked to a NatWest cashpoint from the nearby dance studios where she has been spending the day rehearsing for Saturday's show.

She's not even a bonafide celebrity yet, but the teen was clearly recognisable to onlookers, who stopped to gawk at the reality contestant on Covent Garden's famous Long Acre.

But as she attempted to use the 'hole in the wall', the anxious 17-year-old looked to her assistants to give her some privacy by draping a large brown pashmina around her.

Needing some privacy: An X Factor aide wraps her pashmina around Cher as she stands by the cashpoint on Long Acre

Need privacy? Cher hides under a pashmina as she withdraws some money

Some fans of the X Factor have accused judge Cheryl Cole of giving her lookalike Cher special treatment after she allowed the teen to progress to the Final 12, despite not being able to sing at the Judges' Houses stages.

Fears were raised for Miss Lloyd after she buckled under the pressure during her final audition for Mrs Cole and failed to sing after battling a sore throat.

The show’s producers are keeping a close eye on her and have made a counsellor available to all contestants.

Nerves: Cher has been given 8/1 odds to win this year's show by Ladbrokes

Mrs Cole decided to send Cher through based on her previous performances.
But yesterday her father hit out at claims that she was too frail to take part, saying ‘her mental state is fine’.

Darren Lloyd dismissed the concerns. He told the Daily Mail: ‘People have said she cracked under the pressure with her audition on Saturday night but that was rubbish.
‘She had tonsillitis and found it very difficult to sing. We are totally behind her and support her. She deserves to be in the live finals.

‘Cher is absolutely delighted and excited to be in the live finals. Her mental state is fine, she’s focused and excited,’ added Mr Lloyd, from Malvern, Worcestershire.