For years now people have been claiming TV talent shows like ‘The X-Factor’ are a fix as soon as their favourite contestants have been sent packing (myself included), but it seems that
For years now people have been claiming TV talent shows like ‘The X-Factor’ are a fix as soon as their favourite contestants have been sent packing (myself included), but it seems that this year the series has taken a turn for the worse as Ofcom was faced with over 2500 complaints following the dramatic live results show on 7th October 2012.
Millions of viewers watched as Louis Walsh was seen in discussion with a producer before making his decision to send the votes to the ridiculously named ‘Deadlock’, after previously saying he’d save country singer Carolyn. This meant that extravagant Essex boy Rylan was saved despite Carolyn clearly displaying one hell of a lot more talent in the ‘sing-off’.
I’m sure this sort of thing has been going on for years, I can’t count how many times a talent-lacking entertainer has been saved over someone who actually has a chance of making it. Not only that but I swear I’ve seen that guy before crouching behind Louis and whispering sweet-nothings in his ear. So why is it all of a sudden that people are making so many complaints? Surely they haven’t only just realised that ‘The X-Factor’ may not be as fair and friendly as it’s pretending to be.
Maybe its because Louis was deliberating for so long, and mysteriously ‘changed’ his seemingly oh-so obvious decision, or maybe it is because its loyal viewers have just finally had enough of the mysterious goings-on when talented people leave over characters who are clearly just an attempt to keep the viewing figures and surrounding discussion at a high.
This series more than ever I’ve been watching The X-Factor and dramatically proclaimed ‘I’m not watching this anymore’ or ‘this is ridiculous’. I know that every year I say this, but I still find myself watching year after year, week after week.
Watching truly talented singers leave this year at bootcamp really set the live shows off badly before they’d even started. Contestants such as comeback girl Melanie McCabe and rock singer Joseph Whelan, who had been given plenty of airtime and would surely succeed were dismissed without even a mention. Not to forget the battle of the boy bands which saw two of the more talented groups, Union J and Times Red, ditched from the competition, only to be brought back as if by magic with very little explanation in the next episode.
It seems like the producers are convinced that there needs to be some sort of drama in every episode just to keep the X-Factor flame alight, when really wouldn’t everyone be happier if it was stripped back to basics and true talent reigned?
Will we ever truly know what goes on in the big-wigs production meetings? Will Ofcom tackle the complaints with an X-Factor investigation? What we do know is that ‘The X-Factor’ doesn’t do boring, whether the public like it or not, the drama is going to stay, and probably get worse. Until everyone agrees to boycott the show, ‘The X-Factor’ will most likely continue, fixed or not, and as much as I hate to admit it, until something else comes along after Strictly to brighten up my Saturday night, I’ll probably be along with them all watching.
