A music manager has been fired from The X Factor after it emerged pop star Tulisa Contostavlos is suing him over allegations he was involved in leaking her sex tape.

Chris Herbert, famed for creating the Spice Girls, was to serve as a consultant in the next season of the TV talent show but he has lost the job after being added as a defendant in Contostavlos' lawsuit.

A spokesperson for The X Factor says, "As a result of us becoming aware of the ongoing legal dispute between Tulisa and Mr Herbert, we have decided it is in everyone's interest for him to not be involved in the forthcoming series."

In court documents, Contostavlos, a judge on the TV contest, has accused Herbert of being "aware of, involved in and consulted (about)" an online scheme to sell footage of her performing a sex act on her former lover Justin Edwards.

The N-Dubz star was left devastated in March when the clip was made available for download on the internet for £4.

Her lawyer also claims Herbert "played a pivotal role in commercial exploitation of the film" and acted as a middleman, adding, "The expectation of those involved was they would earn seven-figure sums."

On Thursday, Contostavlos told of her relief after Edwards told the High Court he played a part in the unauthorised release.

> IN PICS: TULISA'S BEST LOOKS

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  • The Perfect 10: Tulisa Contostavlos

    <strong>June 2012</strong> Tulisa wore tartan, a cropped Biker jacket and peplum skirt for Scottish X Factor auditions

  • The Perfect 10: Tulisa Contostavlos

  • The Perfect 10: Tulisa Contostavlos

  • The Perfect 10: Tulisa Contostavlos

    <strong>May 2012</strong> At FHM's Sexiest Woman in the World 2012 awards, Tulisa Contostavlos wore a one-shoulder studded LBD

  • The Perfect 10: Tulisa Contostavlos

  • The Perfect 10: Tulisa Contostavlos

    <strong>January 2012</strong> Tulisa sportted a hot pink feather number to the NTA's.

  • The Perfect 10: Tulisa Contostavlos

    <strong>November 2011</strong> Tulisa played the evening's scarlet woman at the Cosmo Awards, in a one-shoulder Suzanne Neville mini dress

  • The Perfect 10: Tulisa Contostavlos

    <strong>October 2011</strong> Tulisa Contostavlos joined the rest of the UK glitterati on the Pride of Britain red carpet in an attention-grabbing Vivienne Westwood print dress.

  • The Perfect 10: Tulisa Contostavlos

  • The Perfect 10: Tulisa Contostavlos