AS I SEE IT: X-Factor has the zzzzzz Factor

IS it me or do others feel the same about “The X-Factor” – bored!

The ITV reality show returned to our television screens in August and I feel I’ve had enough already. In fact, I’m not even sure if I’m going to bother to tune in this weekend.

When “The X-Factor” began in 2004 I was a massive fan and always looked forward to the show returning every year. The auditions were hilarious, the live shows were electrifying, eccentric and exciting and the judges comments at the time seemed genuine and entertaining. However, the main problem I have with the talent show now is that it seems so contrived. The constant (manufactured) squabbling between the judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole (or is it Tweedy now?!), Danni Minogue and Louis Walsh is so predictable and irritating. Obviously, producers at ITV need to think of something new each week to ensure ratings remain high and millions of viewers continue to tune in.

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But every week there seems to be a controversy as a last-ditch attempt to keep viewers watching and picking up the phone to vote for their favourite artist.

Almost all the “talented” contestants this year, who are dreaming of pop stardom and “following their dreams”, seem to have a sob story.

Ignoring all the publicity surrounding Gamu, the live shows began on Saturday and the judges decided to expand the categories, handing out wild cards to four candidates who didn’t originally make it through to the final 12, which, just to confuse matters further, is now the final 16!

One of the most controversial candidates this year is 24-year-old drama queen Katie Waissel. Not only was her bizarre outfit (with a multi-coloured Roman gladiator hat dressed with jewels) outrageous, but her diva-like behaviour seemed to irritate a lot of people on Saturday. She had to sing for survival after ending up in the bottom two against boyband FYD and scraped through to next week – thanks to the judges.

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Another annoying performer is 17-year-old Cheryl lookalike Cher Lloyd. Sure, she can rap and command the stage, but unfortunately, that’s about it. Having said this, there are a handful of performers who you could actually say have serious popstar potential or talent.

In my opinion they are, former decorator Matt Cardle, mother-of-two Rebecca Ferguson, Aiden Grimshaw from Blackpool and former Tesco worker Mary Byrne, from Dublin. They seem to have the voice and personality to go far in the competition.

“The X-Factor” just doesn’t seem to be working for me this year. The format is tired and needs a complete revamp if it is to return next year. I just feel it’s not about talent anymore, it’s about who has the most bizarre personality and can cause the most controversy so I think I will be watching something else on Saturday.

In fact, anything else!

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