Linzi Martin with Girl Thing
Girl Thing's Linzi Martin has auditioned for this year's X Factor.
The 32-year-old singer, who recently reunited with the 'Last One Standing' group on ITV2's 'The Big Reunion', came face-to-face with the band's former manager Simon Cowell at auditions last week - but her bid for a pop comeback was short-lived.
Linzi reportedly broke down while telling the judges - including Louis Walsh, Mel B and Cheryl Cole - about her previous attempts at pop stardom.
A source told the Daily Star newspaper: "Her tears didn't really wash with the panel."
Simon, 54, created Girl Thing in a bid to rival the Spice Girls' popularity, but the band - also consisting of Jodi Albert, Anika Bostelaar, Michelle Barber and Nikki Stuart - failed to connect with the public and were unceremoniously dropped after just two single releases.
Earlier this year, the music mogul blasted his former act by branding them "bitter".
On 'The Big Reunion', Linzi claimed she wrote some of the verses for the hit Hear'Say song 'Pure and Simple', which was originally recorded by Girl Thing.
Simon offered his two cents on the drama, telling BANG Showbiz: "What happened was, the guy that was managing them, I got him the gig to manage 'Popstars' [winners], Hear'Say. He gave my song, 'Pure and Simple', to Hear'Say. It was my hit record.
"That's why we didn't do what we hoped we were going to do with that group. It's as simple as that."
Tagged in Cheryl Cole Mel B Simon Cowell