The family of the autistic singer who cracked under the pressure of XFactor‘s boot camp believe he was eliminated to avoid a repeat of the Susan Boyle controversy, according to The Mirror.

Scott James, who suffers from Asperger’s syndrome, forgot the words during a TV performance seen by 8.9million at the weekend.

Yesterday, it emerged the 22-year-old had suffered a series of panic attacks before failing to make the final 24.

The Mirror told earlier this month how ex-recluse Scott, of Stockton-on-Tees, has now overcome his phobias.

Sharon and Ken the parents of Scott have claimed ITV bosses vetoed him in case he cracked up in the spotlight of the finals like SuBo – who spent time in a clinic after her rise to global fame in Britain’s Got Talent.

Scott’s singing coach Linzi Hunter said: “It might have been different if he’d come along before Susan. I think they were worried how he’d cope with the live shows .