X Factor contestants come to blows onstage

The raw emotions in talent show TV programs have reached new heights, with two teen contestants on the UK's The X Factor coming to blows on stage.

Aspiring singers Abbey Johnston and Lisa Parker were at first in a chirpy mood when they bounded onto the stage to sing a duet.

But before they even began to perform Shayne Ward's That's My Goal, one of them stormed off stage to a chorus of boos.

Nor did things improve after a shaky singing performance.

"At the end of the day, we don’t care what you guys say, we just came up here," Lisa, 17, told the audience.

Judge Simon Cowell admonished the pair as having the "worst attitude" of any contestant to appear on the show.

And when guest judge Natalie Imbruglia offered some gentle criticism, Lisa hit back: "who are you, may I ask?"

At this point a clearly fed-up Abbey stormed off stage again, but not before making a parting shot at her singing partner, striking Lisa in the face with a swinging fist.

A spokesman for the X Factor said the contestants were separated backstage.