X Factor contestant faces the sack after pulling sickie to appear on show

A woman who pulled a sickie to audition for the X Factor is facing the sack – after her bosses recognised her on the show.

Fiona Robertson, 25, performed in front of Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole in a bizarre routine as the Wicked Witch of the West in April this year.

But she is now facing disciplinary action after she was recognised by her bosses at Wookey Hole Caves, Somerset, where she works as a £50,000-a-year entertainer.

Fiona had claimed she was ill with flu on the day of the audition but was rumbled when a preview of the new X Factor series featuring her picture appeared in newspapers.

Daniel Medley, Director of Wookey Hole Caves, said Fiona is now facing disciplinary action.

He said: ”We have been extremely pleased with how well Fiona has settled in and taken to the role – she has an enchanting way with people.

”But we now feel very let-down and cannot believe that she has used her fame from Wookey Hole Caves to further her career whilst still working for us.

”We feel we have been used. I was genuinely shocked when I saw her in the papers, she was even wearing her Wookey Witch costume.

”And to think she may have taken a day’s sick leave as well to attend the audition, this is just totally unacceptable and we are considering disciplinary action.”

Fiona, from Taunton, Somerset, began working as the Wookey Witch in August 2009 after her predecessor was controversially sacked.

She attended the X Factor auditions on April 21 this year at the Cardiff City Football Stadium, in Cardiff, South Wales.

Fiona dressed as the Wicked Witch Of The West from the Wizard Of Oz and gave a performance which will be screened on ITV1 this Saturday (21/08).

She sang Defying Gravity from the West End show Wicked and Witchcraft by Frank Sinatra but failed to impress Simon, Louis and Cheryl.

X Factor bosses gave a preview of the show to the media, which was published on Tuesday, and Fiona’s bosses recognised her immediately.

They checked records and found that she had taken three days off sick for flu from April 20-22 and are now considering disciplinary action.

Fiona today pledged to apologise for her deception and revealed she has not yet been suspended from her post.

She said: ”My manager thought I had been off with the flu until he opened his paper earlier this week and saw a picture of me in the centrefold.

”He was a bit shocked and I’m being called in for a meeting with him to discuss what happened. I will apologise so hopefully I can keep my job.

”I’m not a bad singer but the three judges weren’t very impressed and I think the fact that I was dressed as a witch shocked them a bit.

”I performed the day before Cheryl Cole was diagnosed with malaria and she certainly didn’t have much patience for me.”