'BGT' contestant sues over 'humiliation'

Simon Cowell is being sued by a 'Britain's Got Talent' contestant.

Emma Czikai claims she was "humiliated and degraded" on the talent show in 2009 - where she sang Westlife hit 'You Raise Me Up', and was quickly sent off the stage by Simon and fellow judges Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan - and is attempting to have her case heard by an employment tribunal.

Speaking at a hearing in London yesterday, Emma said: "I haven't got a horrible singing voice when I sing in a fair environment that meets the needs of my particular disabilities as I proved when I performed live on 'Britain's Got More Talent'.

"This programme makes a select number of rich people very, very rich on the backs of the ordinary man and woman in the street through exploitation, humiliation, degradation and a re-emergence of modern-day barbarism with all its inherent cruelty."

At the pre-tribunal review Emma revealed she was seeking £300,000 (€354,000) for injured feelings, compensation of £1m (€1.18m) and loss of earnings of £1.25m (€1.47m).

Thomas Linden QC, representing Simon's TV production company Simco Ltd., opposed the case getting a full hearing as he claimed 'Britain's Got Talent' was not an employer and the crew on the show had no idea she suffered from fibromyalgia - a disease supposed to cause pain and fatigue, which is not recognised by some doctors.

The hearing continues.