Controversial X Factor contestant Christopher Maloney has been accused of attempting to strangle his former cruise ship co-star.

Maloney has divided audiences on this year's show - beating off some of the most-loved singers to make it through to the final five acts of the competition, with reports of his "fake" behaviour and "diva-ish" ways hitting headlines.

Now, his former cruise ship co-star Janette Galbraith says the performer grabbed her around the throat with both hands while on the MSC Lirica cruise ship in the Mediterranean.

She sensationally claimed in an interview with the Sunday Mirror: "He lunged at me and put his hands around my throat.”

Galbraith - who labelled Maloney "unbelievably vain" and a "real diva" - says the X Factor star turned on her during an argument on Christmas Eve 2005.

She revealed: “I gave him a few home truths about what the other singers and dancers ­really thought of him. I told him that no one liked him. Suddenly he flipped. His face totally changed. It was like he was someone else. His eyes started to burn red and he began shouting. He lunged towards me and grabbed me around the throat. I screamed and tried to get him off. Somehow I managed to get loose and ran out of the cabin, crying. I cried for hours that night. All I wanted was to get off the ship and go home."

Last night Maloney's spokesman said: “Chris ­denies the allegations.”