The X Factor

(10 days 6 hours 5 minutes 40 seconds to go...) according to xfactoruksite.net. Also, the RadioTimes website shows a TBA on 12 August, and if you look at ITV2 for the following day, it's got the repeats of TXF and TXtraF too.

I enjoy The X Factor, so I'm glad it's coming back, and overlapping with the end of BB - no waiting for something else to obsess over!

Four months to find a "star" who's career, by going on past form, will be shorter than the programs run .

I love the X Factor. I really like the graphics and music that go with it. The X Factor is the new countdown to Christmas.

Shayne Ward has everything a pop star needs... except good songs. The material he's been given has been dull and boring rubbish, not worthy of B sides*.

(Kids, if you don't know what a B side is, ask your parents)

I honestly think 'The X Factor' is a good format and is entertaining TV. Just don't expect me to buy the record of the person who wins!

He also, from the interviews I have seen, seems to lack a personality. As this competiton is to find someone with the "X-Factor" I think that is quite important!

Absolutely. It's a great show - who really cares about the artist afterwards?

Exactly! However, there are some members of the GBP that are so deluded that this will lead them into the roads to fame and fortune, where the streets are paved with gold forever and ever. Of course, for some it hasn't turned out too badly (Will Young? Liberty X?), but for the rest of 'em, they've faded back into obscurity and their supposed day jobs. Michelle Mcmanus, Darius Danesh, Hear'Say?

The reality is very much the opposite - the whole talent show format is simple - to rake in as much publicity and cash as possible for the companies concerned whilst the "celebrity" still has some shelf life in them until the next person comes along, when they will get placed on the back burner, being dropped completely by the record label or having to face a life as a Zeleb, and appearing on rubbish TV like Love Island or whatever ITV's next "let's waste cash on zelebrity crap" may be.

However, the best bits of the whole thing have to be the auditions. That's what I watch these things for - I really couldn't care less about whatever bad cover they're doing to get the Xmas #1, it's all about the (desperate) talent, or lack thereof in the first few weeks.

Personally I prefer the boot camp and live Saturday show's - thats when i feel the show really gets going. The auditions shows are good but I hope they dont drag them on for as many weeks as last years.

The auditons are definatly the best part with the old grannys and the 18 year olds who break down in tears when Simon Cowell is blunt with them.

I myself prefer the audions. Reason for that being as we get to see loads of wacky and emotional people making a total joke of themselves and then breaking down or losing it as Simon says no. Once it gets to the live Saturday night stuff it's the same old people who aren't creating any entertainment.

Also, these careers never last long. The only winners of these sort of shows who are still about are Will Young, Girls Aloud and Shayne Ward. Gareth Gates also lasted longer than most. The shortest must have been Steve Bookstein, he only released one song. I think some people expect instant success from these shows and then don't realise there is a lot of constant hard work afterwards. It's the people who stick to it afterwards (such as Girls Aloud) who are still about and still successful.

I hate the audition stage as they just concentrate too much on the crap!


The "so bad it's good" thing worked well in earlier series of Popstars and Pop Idol - but I'm tired of it now and I think The X Factor especially play on it too much.


It's the boot camp / judges house stage where things get interesting IMO!