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

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

'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.