The X Factor 2008 - Official Thread

Oh dear.

The X Factor always makes me wonder what people spend years going to music/drama school for - when they could just as easily get a fast ticket via the four know-nothings on the judging panel. Quite what Cheryl Cole has done to be able to judge someone else's musical merit, God only knows, and she's sounded dim as a Newcastle Council lightbulb on tonight's show.

I'd say more but it's not even worth my time and effort.

Very true. Cowell pretty much owns the judging panel so far.

I for one thought Cheryl was great and if anything it showed how poor and false Danni is as a judge.

What a coincidence! Girls alouds passions straight after Cheryls X factor debut we have Cheryl Cole/street dancer.

I'd say the opposite - Cheryl made Danni look absolutely fantastic.

Oh, and Simon seems to have convinced himself Leona Lewis is the biggest star in the world ever.

He said she was the biggest talent show winner in history. And that is true. Not many British artists manage to make it in America in their whole career, let alone make it to number one in the Billboard charts with their debut album.

If ever there was anything to aspire to in these talent shows, you could argue she is it. Whether she will sustain at that level remains to be seen.

Towards the end of tonight's show on ITV-1 before the credits, does anyone know what that dramatic music was? All synths and strings, no vocals, purely instrumental, a bit like Rob D "Clubbed To Death" without the beat?

No way he could claim she's a bigger winner than some of the American Idol winners though - or arguably bigger than some of the British comic stars who came through the 70's generation of talent shows.

10.2 million viewers, the best launch of any X Factor series. ITV have been very lucky, after the terrible last few weeks.

Didn't deserve 10.2m at all - might be the most watched launch, but was one of the worst IMO.

I noticed there was background music last night during the X Factor - A Moment Like This with Leona Lewis singing...and that Miracles song from last year which Leon released - but it wasn't Leon singing - some other group?

Obviously Simon does not rate Leon - he neither mentionned his name during last night's show (he mentionned Leona) , nor did he play his debut song (they played Leona's)!

Look out for LEO this year - I reckon he will win! He's on in a few weeks time!

It was the original Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston version, more fuel that Simon doesn't believe in Leon?