The X Factor

Well the X Factor is already in its 3rd series so has already overtaken Pop Idol.

Live shows usually start around mid to late October.

Some could argue that this is the fourth series .... but I see what you mean

Is it true there are 15 finalists though this year? Because then that would mean the live shows would start in about a fornight ...

Well I dont count the celebrity series as a proper series - same with Big Brother.

No there are 12 in the live shows same as last year - each judge will have 4 in their category.

I see this as the third series too but as X Factor: Battle of the Stars wont return then some people oculd see it as the fourth series but I think its best forgetting about

Thanks for your help btw

I was on holiday last week so missed Saturday's episode - are we done with the auditions yet? They're midly entertaining for the judge's reactions but I was getting bored of them and the sooner we get to "boot camp" the better!!

Unfortunately not!

I agree with you completly - I hate the "laugh at how crap they are" stage - it's much more interesting when we get to the Boot Camp stage.

Balls - we've got ANOTHER week of auditions?! That'll make it 5! At least at bootcamp you can start to assess people's talent rather than just looking at the freakoids out there.

Actually one thing that has been a bit dodgy this year is the number of people who actually seem to be slightly wrong in the head - rather than just being talentless and deluded. It's one thing to laugh at someone who's a bit stupid and thinks they can sing, but it's another to laugh at someone who has problems upstairs. Maybe I'm wrong - maybe they are all just talentless and deluded, but if not I think it's a bit unfair to poke fun at them.

Yes, you're echoing a point I made after the first episode.

It reminds me of the Victorians taking tours round the asylums to laugh at the crazy people.

The auditions are going quickly this year, im surprised we only have a few more weeks of them! I do prefer the Boot Camp and live shows though.

I think there are actually 6 weeks of auditions so Boot Camp wont start for a few weeks yet.

I agree, however whats wrong is that so many of these people are put through to audition in front of the judges when they know that they dont have any talent.

Personally I'd rather they stripped the audition stage out every night for a week and then moved to it's regular Saturday slot once Boot Camp kicks in!

I think it works well the way it is, just the auditions need to be cut down to four weeks at the most.