[Red Moon]

After her disastrous performance on X Factor, the Britney Spears circus rolls into New York

Britney Spears left behind a trail of disappointed fans as she left London bound for New York yesterday.

The singer kept herself hidden behind oversized sunglasses and a fedora hat as she touched down at JFK after her whistle stop visit to the UK fell short of expectation.

Such was the anticipation over a her guest appearance on the X Factor that it attracted the series's highest audience of 12.8million.

But many were less than impressed that she performed for only four minutes on her British comeback - and didn't even sing.

She mimed to her new hit Womanizer on the ITV show on Saturday night, apparently because she wanted to concentrate fully on her dance routine.

By contrast all the contestants, who are not professional singers, had to deliver their own performance live.

Miss Spears, who turns 27 on December 2, was said to have feared that trying to sing and dance at the same time would prove too much for her.

A spokesman for the show insisted that there had been 'some live vocals'.

However one of the American's aides told the Mail: 'Everyone knows Britney's performances are about the dancing and performing.

Just as she would have mimed five years ago, she also mimed on the show on Saturday.'

Unlike other guest stars such as Take That and Mariah Carey, Miss Spears failed to mentor the contestants ahead of the show - and did not even watch their performances from her dressing room.

And there was more disappointment for fans after the programme when hundreds crammed into London's Astoria club hoping to see her on stage.

When she arrived however, she restricted herself to a 'meet and greet' session with a handful of chosen guests.

A spokesman for her record label yesterday said: 'She was invited to the evening but was never asked to perform.'

At least one of the X Factor hopefuls was philosophical about Miss Spears's failure to sing, or meet the contestants.

Ruth Lorenzo, 26, said: 'She has a frantic life. I'm sure if she had the time she would have (met us). She is hot, man! She's amazing - she can mime if she likes.'

Sadly for Miss Lorenzo, the audience was less enthusiastic about her own performance. She was voted out.

Meanwhile, Britney open up about her 'crazy year' in an interview with Glamour magazine.

'The whole year has been a hell of a year for me,' she says, referring to her high-profile meltdown.

Recording her latest album Circus 'has helped take my mind off certain things - for me, my music is therapy.'

She admitted that her life, which is now under the careful watch of her conservator and father Jamie Spears, is now much quieter.

'I don't like going out. I hate clubs. I hate being around too many people. I love my home and staying in bed and watching Dancing With the Stars or reading a Danielle Steel novel. I'm kind of boring.'

She also spends her time working out: 'My body...completely changed [after giving birth], and I have had to work hard at getting it back.'

Asked what her goals are for the New Year, she said: 'I would like to stop worrying so much, because I worry all the time. And to learn how to be happier, just in general.'

'I have to learn to take things not so seriously. And to stop biting my nails!'

Source and Pictures: Daily Mail