X Factor under fire for showing 'cruel' audition of 'vulnerable' Ceri Rees

The 54-year-old, who has auditioned for the show four times, was shown struggling to sing in tune and was rejected by the judges.

The clip of Rees, from Bridgend in Wales, which showed her singing I Dreamed A Dream from the musical Les Miserables and I Will Always Love You in front of the panel was criticised online.

ITV presenter Lorraine Kelly tweeted: "Uncomfy to watch ceri on x factor - she's a poor wee soul".

Singer Lily Allen wrote: "they shouldn't have aired that audition, she's clearly ill".

Richard Madeley said: "loads agree that last two acts on X Factor last night should never have been featured, certainly at such cruel length. Bad end to show."

A Mind spokesman said: "We want people with mental health problems to participate, but need programme-makers to be responsible."

Viewers saw an upset Rees leave the stage, saying "stuff it", after her rejection.

A spokeswoman for the show said: "The X Factor is open to everybody to apply and we regularly welcome back contestants who want to audition again. Ceri has been taking singing lessons since she last appeared on the show and she wanted to have her vocals judged by a new panel as she hadn't been successful with the previous line-up. Her audition was the same length as the other key stories we have featured in the series and Ceri has assured the team today that she is happy she auditioned for the show."

The show employs psychologists during the auditions to help programme makers and asks contestants to "declare any health issues".

TV bosses canned footage of another eccentric performance last year after concerns were raised about east London hopeful Shirlena Johnson's health.

The ITV1 show decided not to broadcast images of the singer, clad in a leopard-print bra and hot pants, performing an eccentric version of Lady Gaga's Bad Romance in front of judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger.

Mark Davies, director of communications at the charity Rethink Mental Illness, said: "While we can't speculate on the state of Ceri's mental health, she does appear vulnerable and it was clear she had been set up to fail.

"With the right support, there is no reason why people with mental health problems shouldn't be allowed to appear on shows like this - after all, some of our most talented stars have been affected by mental health problems, such as Robbie Williams and Catherine Zeta Jones.

"However, if someone appears vulnerable as Ceri did, to put them in the spotlight in this context is exploitative. We hope the public outcry over this incident will prompt X Factor bosses to be more sensitive in the way they handle similar contestants in future.

"Regardless of mental health issues, I think most people watching would have regarded this episode as gratuitous and cruel."