Britney Spears says her life is like being in prison.

The "Womanizer" singer suffered a public breakdown earlier this year resulting in her father Jamie becoming co-conservator of her estate, but has recently wowed fans with her sleek new image after getting her personal life back on track.

However, the 26-year-old singer has revealed she is still desperately unhappy and feels having her life controlled by others means every day is "like Groundhog day".

Britney said: "There's no excitement, there's no passion. I have really good days, and then I have bad days. Even when you go to jail you know there's the time when you're going to get out.

"But in this situation, it's never ending. It's just like 'Groundhog Day' every day."

The star - whose new album "Circus" is set to be released on December 2, her 27th birthday - believes she is still being made to "pay" for her meltdown, and feels no-one is interested in how she wants to live her life.

She revealed on upcoming TV show "Britney: For The Record": "I don't think it's out of control, I think it's too in control. If I wasn't under the restraints I'm under, I'd feel so liberated. When I tell them the way I feel, it's like they hear but they're really not listening.

"If you do something wrong in your work, you can move on, but I'm having to pay for a long time. I never wanted to become one of those prisoner people. I always wanted to feel free."

It has been suggested part of Britney's angst is being caused by Jamie, who is desperate to prove to the world his daughter is back on form and has masterminded her comeback.

The singer's ex husband Kevin Federline - who has custody of the couple's two sons, Sean Preston, three, and Jayden James, two - left her devastated after refusing to allow her to take their children to the UK later this month when she performs on TV talent show "The X Factor".

The source revealed: "At this point Kevin is holding all the cards and he knows it. Britney can't understand why Kevin isn't willing to give. She's very upset. This should be the best time of her life."

(Agencies/China Daily November 19, 2008)