[Red Moon]

'I'm no cheat': Scandal plagued X Factor favourite Diana Vickers denies affair and special treatment claims

Diana Vickers has hit back at claims she has been given special treatment by producers of the X Factor, insisting ‘I’m not a cheat’.

She has also dismissed rumours that she has started a relationship with fellow contestant Eoghan Quigg, despite having a boyfriend waiting at home.

The 17-year-old has told of her recent low point after being accused of cheating by fans of the show, who were angry she was given an unprecedented ‘bye’ after coming down with laryngitis.

Despite being deemed too ill to perform on the Saturday night show, the teenager was filmed yelling and screaming in cold weather at bonfire night three days earlier.

Conspiracy theorists suggested she was given preferential treatment to keep her in the show for longer, and deliberately allowed to miss the Mariah Carey themed night that could have been a struggle for her voice.

When she returned the following week to sing Coldplay’s Yellow, judges Cheryl Cole and Simon Cowell said it was evident she had not fully recovered from illness.

In the latest edition of new! magazine, which has interviewed all five finalists, the series favourite admits that she felt under pressure from the scandal, which may have damaged her chances of winning.

Diana has also tried to quell rumours of a relationship with fellow contestant Eoghan Quigg.

‘There’s nothing going on,’ she told the magazine, out Tuesday.

‘We’re just like bezzie mates, like little brother and sister.’

But her comments are unlikely to dampen speculation of romance between the pair, after they were spotted cosying up in the back of a cab after Saturday’s nights Take That themed show.

Diana did her best to act coy while 16-year-old Eoghan had a single red rose in hand.

Sources say their affection for each other is the show’s worst kept secret.

An insider said: 'They don't care who knows they're an item any more. They're always together and everybody knows they are a couple now.'

Diana insists she remains loyal to her boyfriend Chris Jones, from her home town of Blackburn.

Irish warbler Eoghan has also denied that he and Diana are secretly dating.

The pair, along with Alexandra Burke, are firm favourites to make the final but bookies say no clear winner has emerged yet.

Source: Daily Mail