Are there any singers/actors/tv presenters whose continued success you find utterly baffling?

[Pinkarsedfly]

I’m just watching TOTP from 1988 and Kim Wilde’s on.

I’m sure she’s a lovely woman, but fuck me, the lass couldn’t sing. Or dance. Or mime.
And yet, she’s still doing the rounds, all these decades later.

See also Bananarama. Who goes to see these acts?

I’m not sure if it’s me that’s missing something, so which acts leave you confused at their success?

Oh yes fearne cotton. She's just self righteously hideously awful.

Yes yes to Tim Lovejoy - I haven't watched Sunday Brunch for ages but I remember him constantly interrupting female guests and just being a total berk. Don't get it!

Stephen Mulhern, Colleen Nolan, Ben Shepherd, Cheryl Cole.... I have absolutely. I idea how any of them made it in TV/pop. Totally charmless and charisma free.

I'll also stand up for Nigella - her cookbooks are brilliant and like others have said, she can really write. I really like Kylie - not the worlds best singer but she has released some absolute tunes.

Stephen Mulhern repulses me. All that mugging at the camera. So unfunny.

Singers: Bernard Sumner of New Order, Neil Tennant of PSB - they haven't a note between them.

Have no problem with Amanda Holden.. she's nice to the BGT contestants, and can act and sing. Not amazingly, but as good as many.

Oh yes, Tom Cruise is another one! Can't act, utterly sexless and creepy as hell. Is it just me who thinks he's like an Action Man doll? Both his face and the fact that he looks like he wouldn't be anatomically correct

Cheryl Cole or whatever her surname is. Can't sing. Is allegedly best looking woman ever but I don't see it. Dull as ditchwater in anything she presents or is a judge on. Thug (but we have forgotten about the toilet attendant she assaulted). Dresses like a blInd Vicky Pollard from 1997

Following a few mentions on this thread I have checked out Jessie J. Fucking hell!! Seriously underestimated her. Her voice is phenomenal

Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman
Bradley Walsh
Gemma Collins and James Argent
Keith Lemon
Danny Dyer and his daughter
Katie Price
Kerry Katrina
Daniella Westbrook
Tim Lovejoy
Practically everyone who has already been mentioned, but I like Rylan, Claudia W and Stacey Solomon. Rylan and Stacey are intelligent and sharp people.

About 90% of mainstream celebs fall into this category for me.

It's only occasionally when someone genuinely talented emerges that the utter uselessness of most 'celebs' hits home.

Haven't RTFT so apologies if this has already been mentioned - Bob Dylan. He is an appalling singer. He writes great songs, but every single one of better when performed by someone else.

Kay Burley, hideous presenter, definitely knows where the bodies are buried the amount of fuck ups she has made and still managed to not only hold onto her job but get promoted is evidence of that.

You're right about Dylan - terribld singer, amazing sonwriter. Honestly i'd commit sacrilige now and say Leonard Cohen was similar. (Not counting all the shitty xfactor covers of Hallelujah obviously).

I was going to add Kay Burley, too... she's an awful, tactless presenter, and just doesn't have the intellect or clout to take on serious political interviews or ask insightful questions.

Yes, I had a smile at Paul McCartney smile

I was thinking more of the ones that a stretched a non-existent talent to breaking point over the years, and yet still hang on.

I've been slated for this, but I think PM has stretched very limited talent to breaking point. I realise this may be controversial, but the Beatles weren't all that great. They were a boy band who for some reason people of a certain age think are the last word in music. All their songs are either happy, clappy and sappy, or the obvious result of writing while being completely shitfaced.

RuffleCrow agree about Cohen. Great song writer, terrible singer.

Bono

Alison Hammond
Stephen Fry
Kaye Adams
Jo Brand
Jeremy Vine
Lorraine Kelly

Have to turn off when they are on, can't stand them. Holly and Phil, Ant and Dec are extremely annoying, way past their sell by date now.

Cilia Black, What a crap voice, bad reputation for treating people like shit, especially air staff . she only got famous because of her friendships with the Beatles, right time, right place and she always banged on about them , strange that neither of the surviving members turned up to her funeral.

@SaskiRembrandt totally agree, both about Dylan and McCartney (and The Beatles generally).

Fi Glover on Radio 4 - just why?

Got to agree about Dylan and Cohen

Love their writing but Cohen's songs in particular only sound as amazing as they are when sung by somebody else

Ian Capaldi
Ed Sheeran
Gemma Collins,shes just vile
Adam Sandler has gone from playing the son to the father.I cant stand him.

I think once you get to a certain level of fame, its virtually impossible to go away (unless you commit a hideous crime)
It offends me that celebs often with very little discernible talent in the first place get all manner of "extra" opportunities
Eg Fearne Cotton has written a cookery book
Jools Oliver has written a baby book
Myleene Klass "designed" baby clothes for mothercare
Tana Ramsay has written a cookery book
VB has "designed" the interior of a range rover
Holly Willoughby has written some kind of "helpful" book.
I don't understand who buys all this stuff and why having a celeb name to it makes it any better?

75% of the people posters have named. Amanda holden is absolutely awful, Ed sheeran, Lorraine Kelly, piers Morgan, Nicole scherzinger, Ellie Goulding, Kylie are all people I really can't stand. Like I said there are many more that people have named.

I've always thought it must be awful to actually have talent, i.e. a singer, actor, dancer, etc., but constantly ignored in favour of these "slebs" who are just famous for being famous.

I started thinking it years ago watching Cbeebies with my toddler. Some of the presenters were completely hopeless - no abilities at all, with out of tune singing, clunking around pretending to dance, etc. When you think there must be hundreds (or more) people watching that dross who could do a better job of it - it must drive them insane to get constant rejections at auditions.

I think the one i dislike the most is Sam Smith.I dont ike the singing.And they alwys remind me of Alfie from EE for some reason.

They are just too tryhard.