British boyband Take That have criticised Britney Spears for lip-syncing her recent performance on U.K. TV talent show The X Factor - insisting she should have set an example to the contestants by singing live.

The pop superstar appeared on the singing competition on Saturday night, but her rendition of new single Womanizer has been slammed by critics because she opted to mime so she could concentrate on her complicated dance routine.

And now Take That, whose album The Circus is going head-to-head with Spears' similarly titled Circus in the U.K. charts this week, have waded into the debate.

Frontman Gary Barlow says, "I don't see the point in Britney anymore, she was rubbish on the show. I think she's more famous now than she deserves to be. Why come on a show like that and mime?"

Bandmate Howard Donald adds: "All the contestants on The X Factor are so talented and were able to sing and dance live. So why wasn't Britney able to do it? It's the whole point of the show and her miming looked stupid. I just don't think she understood the show. She was probably made to do it. Britney is unlikely to have had any say in it."