R & B singer Mariah Carey is said to have lived up to her reputation of a diva when she arrived late for her X Factor recording because she did not like the car that had been sent to pick her up.

Carey, 39, was not happy with the Mercedes, Simon Cowell, 50, had sent, and after a minor row she finally arrived in a 250,000-pound Rolls-Royce Phantom and taped a performance of her new track I Want To Know What Love Is, to be screened on next week's ITV1 show.

Cowell is said to have been smiling the whole time, as Carey's appearance puts The X Factor show ahead of rival programme Strictly Come Dancing, reports the Daily Star.

The Hero singer had originally been booked to perform on the Beeb show at the weekend, but pulled out at the 11th hour on his orders.