X Factor legend Chico Slimani denies drink driving as he blames cough drugs for failing breathalyser check

X Factor legend Chico Slimani has appeared in court to deny drink driving – blaming cough medicine for failing a breathalyser test. 

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. 

The 54-year-old came in at just one microgram over what usually results in a prosecution when he was stopped by police on Chase Way, Barnet on December 13, Willesden magistrates’ court heard today. 

Chico pleaded ‘not guilty’ at today’s hearing, where he wore a black fur coat and a black shirt, unbuttoned to expose his chest.

Katie Cohen, prosecuting, told how the performer-turned-wellness guru was charged with driving a black Vauxhall Astra with 40mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath, above the alcohol limit.

Sarah King, defending, said: ‘The issue for trial is that the defendant had consumed cough medicine prior to the procedure taking place, this could impact the accuracy of the reading.’

Ms King added there was a ‘question over whether or not the procedure was carried out correctly’, explaining that a form which needed to be filled out by police was only ‘partially completed’.

Chico, whose real name is Yousseph Slimani, is accused of drink-driving in Chase Way, Southgate, on December 13

‘They ask questions such as ‘have you taken medication’, but they have written no answers in any of the boxes’, the lawyer explained. ‘It is unclear what was discussed. If this was asked he should have been given a urine test or a blood test.’

The court heard medication such as cough medicine can affect the way that alcohol readings are recorded by a breathalyser test and the defence would be instructing a toxicologist as an expert witness to carry out a calculation and provide scientific evidence.

Chico’s wife, Daniyela Rakic, will be called as a defence witness, Ms King told magistrates, stating: ‘She can confirm she has purchased the cough medicine and she was present when he had taken that.’

Ms King added that – although the limit is 35mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath – Chico was only one over the level that is normally not prosecuted.

‘A reading of 40mcg is effectively one over what the prosecution normally prosecute,’ she said. ‘Anything 39 or below they would not normally prosecute because of the public interest.’

Lead magistrate Susan Kayser told Chico, of Enfield, that he needed to return to the same court on April 9 for his four-hour trial and granted him unconditional bail.

The magistrate told him: ‘If you fail to attend, the trial can go ahead in your absence and almost certainly a warrant would be issued for your immediate arrest.’

Slimani, of north London, is accused of driving a Vauxhall Astra with 40 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, Willesden Magistrates’ Court heard today

Chico released ‘It’s Chico Time’ in February 2006 and it became a UK number one hit on March 5, 2006 and stayed at the top for two weeks. He became the first X Factor runner-up to have his debut single peak at number one.

Since finding fame on X Factor, Chico has set up wellness retreats in Bali, Croatia and Portugal.

The fun-loving star, who is married to Daniyela Rakic, has made numerous surreal appearances on Good Morning Britain.

In August 2023, he lifted his top to show off his rock-hard midriff, during a debate about whether it is appropriate to wear just a bikini in an airport, in which he admitted that he usually walks around topless in public.

In August last year, he bizarrely appeared on the morning show to debate whether people should be able to drive cars in flip flops. He was of the opinion drivers should be able to during the exchange, for which he wore sunglasses, a pirate-style hat and bandana.

The former goat herder, who was born in Wales, but moved to Morocco when he was a baby, has said that although The X Factor gave him a ‘platform’ to do other things, he believes singers are ‘naive’ for thinking they’d have long careers in the music industry.

Chico appeared in the 2005 series of the TV talent show and later released a number one single, It’s Chico Time

He explained: ‘It gave me the chance to earn a good living, I’ve been around the country entertaining the masses, so much has come from that.

‘I can’t complain because I again, I knew what it was, they use you, or abuse you…’

He then exclaimed: ‘They don’t care about you. You’re a commodity, you are as good as the money you’re going to make them. That is it.’

‘You are completely replaceable and as I said it’s a conveyor belt. if you’re not going to do it, someone else will take your place to do it.’

An X Factor spokesperson told MailOnline at the time: ‘Duty of care to our contestants is of the utmost importance to us. We take welfare very seriously and have measures in place to ensure that they are supported.’