X Factor crooner Wagner Carrilho has apparently cancelled his sickness benefits after a change of heart about a shoulder condition.
The Sun newspaper has taken credit for his decision to quit being a benefits scrounger after it led a campaign following his inclusion into a lucrative X Factor tour.
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The Brazilian singer, who was booted off the show last month, was enjoying a weekly handout of £94.10 from Job Centre, the newspaper claimed.
Wagner, a former PE and karate teacher is said to have initially claimed the handout for a frozen shoulder 18 months ago
But he enraged many by continuing to take the money despite performing regular on-stage acrobatics beside dancers while competing on the talent show.
Welfare inspectors summoned the energetic 54-year-old from Birmingham after Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith urged Wagner to “explain himself”.
“One of the people on his case noticed he was leaping in the air with his arms above him when I am told that he had a frozen shoulder,” Smith told the Sun.
“Frozen shoulders tend to mean that you can’t have your arm in the air – it’s impossible. He will be asked to explain why he was on benefits in the first place.”
A spokesman for the singer last night insisted he had done nothing wrong.
“He is no longer claiming and wrote to the authorities the minute he left the show when he was given his gig schedule,” he said.
