Former tribute band member Sue Brierley made it through to the second round of the Popstars: The Rivals auditions...before being told she was two months too old.
Today Sue, from Audley Way, Basildon, said the show's bosses knew she was just 25 - the age limit is 24 - and put her through to see the panel anyway.
But she says pop producer Pete Waterman, singer Geri Halliwell and Westlife manager Louis Walsh had no intentions of letting her go any further.
Rejected - Sue Brierley is angry with Popstars Picture: LUAN MARSHALL
The shop assistant said: "They knew I was 25, but they let me through and the first thing they said was 'you are too old.'
"They wasted my time just for the sake of television and I was really annoyed."
Sue was a member of Spice Girls' tribute band Spicy Girls for four years and thinks this may have been another reason she was put through.
However Sue is not going to give up on her dreams of becoming a star and said she was looking to pursue a career in the garage music market.
Published Tuesday August 20, 2002
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