Shock over X Factor reject's rant

Pink tribute act Zoe Alexander launched into a foul-mouthed tirade after she was rejected by the judges on Saturday night's X Factor.

The 22-year-old singer, who earns her living as a Pink impersonator, threw her microphone as she stormed off stage following her failed audition.

Zoe, who was dressed in the style of Pink, gave a rendition of So What by the American popstar after telling the judges she wanted to establish her own identity.

A confused-looking Gary Barlow stopped the performance and offered her a second chance, which she used to sing Emeli Sande's Next To Me.

But the judges remained unimpressed and ended the Welsh girl's dream of X Factor stardom by giving her four straight 'no's.

However Zoe did not want to go quietly and instead shouted that she had been told to sing a Pink song - a claim which the judges denied.

She then stropped off the stage, throwing her microphone as she went, before being brought back on by her Tom Jones impersonator father to try and plead her case.

Amid shocking scenes she hurled abuse at the panel, with Tulisa Contostavlos telling the pair to stay back, while Nicole Scherzinger described the situation as "inappropriate".

Zoe once again left the stage, this time pushing a cameraman and knocking over equipment before being met by the rest of her family, who attempted to console her.

The return of the TV talent show was watched by almost 10 million people on Saturday.

At its peak there were 9.9 million viewers for X Factor, which was sandwiched between two programmes of Simon Cowell's gameshow Red or Black?