X Factor’s Chico arrives at court wearing cowboy hat & says cough syrup ‘could have sent him over drink-drive limit’
X FACTOR star Chico may have exceeded the drink-drive limit because he took cough medicine before being breathalysed, a court has heard.
The 54-year-old singer – who donned a fur coat and cowboy hat to court – pleaded not guilty to drink-driving in Southgate, London, on December 13.
Chico – whose real name is Yousseph Slimani – appeared in the 2005 series of the TV talent show and later released a number one single, It’s Chico Time.
He is accused of driving a Vauxhall Astra with 40 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, Willesden Magistrates’ Court heard on Tuesday.
The legal limit of alcohol for driving in England is 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres.
Chico had consumed cough medicine before giving the reading and that could have impacted its accuracy, Sarah King, defending, said.
Slimani pleaded not guilty and was given bail until his trial on April 9.
Welsh-born Chico found fame after reaching the quarter finals of the X Factor in 2005.
Simon Cowell famously walked out of his initial X Factor audition after fellow judges Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne voted him through.
In 2006, Chico had a number one hit on the British charts titled It’s Chico Time, which became his signature catchphrase.
In 2008, he appeared on the reality TV show CelebAir alongside socialite Tamara Beckwith and singer Lisa Maffia.
In 2010, Slimani recorded a single in support of the English Football Team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, aptly called “It’s England Time”, a play on “It’s Chico Time”.
He also competed in ITV’s 2012 series of Dancing on Ice.
In 2018, he was rushed to hospital after suffering a stroke.
Recently, he launched his own fitness app called Block Fit which includes workout classes based around his hits.
Chico married singer Daniyela Rakic, sister of Wimbledon Champion Nenad Zimonjić, and the couple have two children.