Scott James' Childhood 'hell'

Wednesday 30th September 2009 - 13:00:24

'X Factor' contestant Scott James said his life at school was "hell", which forced him into isolation.

The singer - who had a panic attack shortly before the show's second round and subsequently missed out on a place among the final 24 contestants - said his life was made a misery by bullies after he was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome aged 13.

He said: "I was different and the kids came out of the woodwork and began taking the initiative to try and taunt me, bully me.

"I didn't associate with anyone when I was a teenager. It was just a constant five-year slog.

He was under-staffed and he thought it might help me a little to just do something different, hand out change, daft things like that, for a couple of hours a week. That was also about the time I met Linzi Hunter, my vocal coach.

"I started playing truant and I just didn't learn enough and got atrocious GCSEs. That's a huge regret."

Scott, 24, added he "liked the isolation" of staying at home in his bedroom for nearly seven years as a result of the bullying, though his parents finally helped him turn his life back around when they got him a job at the bingo hall run by his dad, Ken.

Scott explained: "He was under-staffed and he thought it might help me a little to just do something different, hand out change, daft things like that, for a couple of hours a week. That was also about the time I met Linzi Hunter, my vocal coach."

With ever growing confidence Scott managed to pluck up the courage to appear on 'X Factor' and wowed judges with his performance of Secret Garden song 'You Raise Me Up'.

Scott now plans to continue performing and has weekly shows lined up in his native North-east of England. He has also been chosen to release a song for The Autistic Society.