X-Factor hopefuls to see the shrink first

Contestants on the X-Factor will face a barrage of psychological tests in the wake of Susan Boyle's meltdown as a runner up on Britain's Got Talent. The Boyle lesson made television executives aware of the rigours of reality talent shows - especially on the never-before famous. The X-Factor plans to bring in a tough set of guidelines to avoid a repeat experience. And the move is not just a one-off condition of entry. Contestants making their way through the hoops will have to see a psychologist every step of the way. Boyle, 48, is now at a point where she is poised for international stardom. But the road has been hard. Never assessed before the contest, she was holed up in a North London rehabilitation clinic after several public incidents that showed her falling apart in the face of her overnight fame. BGT producer Talkback Thames faced hefty criticism over the incident.