Sick Leon Fears For His Voice After Op

Jan 6 2008

THE family of X Factor winner Leon Jackson fear he could lose his singing voice forever.

The teen star cancelled a series of Hogmanay gigs after developing tonsillitis and being advised by doctors to rest his voice.

But a source close to his family yesterday revealed he must stop singing until fully recovered or face an operation to remove his tonsils - which could change his voice.

The friend said: "Leon has come under a lot of criticism for cancelling gigs but he is very ill.

"His doctor has told him he must stop using his voice until he is fully better or he will have to have the op.

"In singers, this can lead to a permanent change in voice and difficulty in pronouncing some words.

"Leon feels miserable. He's been accused of being lazy and has spent days in bed feeling very poorly.

"He feels he has been unnecessarily attacked."

Scots rocker Amy Macdonald accused Leon of "lazyitis" after he cancelled three New Year gigs, despite partying with pals to celebrate his 19th birthday the night before.

The Whitburn star is also under fire because his agents are charging £25,000 for him to sing three songs. The same money could secure an appearance by chart-topping Girls Aloud.