for thinking there is something really dodgy about the x-factor this year....

[AliGrylls]

It is really strange the way all of Simon's acts are still in and everyone else's acts are slowly disappearing.

Lucy had a great voice, Rachel last week again lovely voice.

Which leaves in JEdward (how did they manage to survive), Lloyd (only appeals to 12 year old girls with topshop knickers to be wet), Stacey (lovely though she is, she is v nervous) + all of Simon's acts.

Maybe he leaves his phone on auto re-dial for his acts and the one week Danyl was in bottom two was when he forgot to do it.

It's not real!

it's not a real vote, it's not a real competition, it's engineered entirely for maximum viewers.

Stacey is still in because her face is going to collapse with pain when she eventually gets booted out, and until that point her nerves will make fascinating viewing. Lloyd is still in because 12 year old girls are the target audience of pap like X Factor, and JEdward are still in because they are causing a lot of controversy, and a lot of media coverage.

If you think for a second that the producers haven't already picked the 'winner' you are hopelessly naive!

Splutters... have only had 2 glasses.. honest.. it can't be me...

what are the words 12yo girls and topshop knickers and wet doing in the same sentence?

Something deffo not right about it all... will have to up my flaming LoveFilm subscription now....

i am not watching X factor this year as have no tv signal at the moment but I think given the massive campaign on facebook some guy called Olly Murrs (sp?) is going to win.

bet he got booted out tonight now I said that......

I watched the end bit tonight (first of x factor I've seen for about 2 years) and thought both acts were terrible. Lucie had a lovely voice, but was incredibly dull, and would have been more at home singing karaoke in her local. John and Edward (ohhh, Jedward! I get it know!) were still karaoke like, but at least pranced around a bit.

simon's acts were the strongest from the outset though.

And tbh I think these shows are always fixed to a degree - I found it rather a coincidence last year that the majority of the acts had some kind of famour connection (mother of alexandra burke already a famous singer in her own right several years ago, members of jls had been on children's television, members of other groups in relationships with already famous singers etc).

Its all rubbish, don't watch it.

and tbh I think people take it far too seriously.

Because in reality, it doesn't matter who wins, because if the other acts are any good they will be signed and become successful (jls?) anyway.

YANBU its stupid this year and i hope people will start boycotting voting for any of them

I don't believe for a moment that the public vote is rigged. After all that scandal at the BBC, there is no way that ITV would go in for that type of fraud.

I can believe the actual contestants to make the final are rigged, but not the public vote. It would be looked upon extremely harshly by Ofcom or whatever they're called, the idea that these people live in a world where cheating is the norm and they don't expect to be audited, is just not true. It might have been at one time, but not now it would be too risky.

YABU people voted, this is what they want. for what it's worth I couldn't stand Rachael or Lucie, so I disagree with you on those ones, didn't like their voices at all.

Although I watch it every year, I am always really, really annoyed that the Xmas No 1 is dictated by this show.

And Simon Cowell was a complete tosser tonight!

I don't really watch it but keep up with whos booted out etc and tonight I was gobsmacked!

Simon has bleated on for so long about how much he Jedward yet the first time he gets the chance he refuses to do it, something suss about it all either he is getting rid of the good acts to keep his in or the show has already sorted out that these 2 will get as far as the final to keep ratings up then they will lose to someone incredibly dull which is what normally happens...

Has anyone else noticed the fact that Jedward always get cheesey upbeat songs that will get the audience going where as every other contestant gets a relatively mellow song?

Also hate the christmas thing, I used to like sitting on the sunday night before with my friends and trying to guess who would be number 1 now you know what it will be before it is even released!

I'll not be watching it anymore - twas the only program on TV me and DP watched. Thought they would finally be gone if they were in the bottom two - Simon Cowell, what a twunt!

The phone vote doesn't have to be rigged does it as the judges can ultimately block any act from being sent home.
I don't think he wants another girl to win as they would be in competition with Leona and Alexandra Burke.Bit much better for him for a guy to win this time.
I think Lucie perhaps came over as being not humble enough or possibly people thought she was safe

I don't watch but was not surprised to hear that Simon had left it to a public vote, of which he knows in advance, for Lucy and Jedwards. They've already decided who will win, what with song choices, stories and a wafer thin slice of talent. I haven't watched an episode for years but think this year is more transparent than usual.

The public vote doesn't have to be rigged just the right comments, the right stories and the right song can make the final.

Anyone in doubt should read Chart Throb by Ben Elton.

Did you notice that Jedward sang very very little on their own in the sing off.They were very heavily supported by backing singers.

I think simon has just kept john and edward in on purpose to make people shocked as more people will talk about it, write in papers etc so more publicity for his show?

I just think the Sunday show is a waste of space. What is the point of having a sing off if it always goes to dead lock? Just another day to raise more revenue. Also the public don't vote for the bottom two - they vote for their favourite - people don't vote to see who sings off, so the judges should make a decision based on the singing.

I am no longer voting this year. can't be bothered to spend my money on something that seems so staged and fixed. PLus whilst there are good singers, i don't think any of them has the x factor and will last longer than Leon.

That was awful last night.

Not sure about votes being rigged, but Lucy was brilliant, and I think Simon only put it to public vote as he knew jedward would get through that way whereas Lucy would have been serious competition for his acts.

Ollie to win

Thought it had been dodgy every year, tbh.

Thought that was the point!

it's compulsive weekend viewing and that is what it's there for

and Jedward won't win

and Danyl (Simon's act) has been in the bottom two also

blame the public, yeah Simon was a bit naughty but he didn't put those acts in the bottom 2

I'm boycotting x factor.

Simon always said the right things, the judges were generally irritating but fair, etc.

This year, they're all bitching at each other, all they're interested in is out doing the other judges and winning the competiton between each other. The singers might as well not sing as it makes no difference whether they do or don't.

Lucie was fab- what did she bother singing for? She might as well have gone on and made farm animal noises, she was going to go because Simon wants people to keep voting and putting money in his pocket which they will as long as Jedward are in, and he doesn't want any competition for his acts.

I always liked Simon but now I think he's a plonker and I swear I will not watch x factor again this series.

Me too TandUP! I think the show lost all credibility last night, and a lot of people will have lost all respect for Simon Cowell.

I really think (hope!) that last night will have killed X Factor.

I don't take it seriously, but I do doubt that the public vote is rigged - and I am a very cynical person. They'd never dare, not after all the trouble both the BBC and ITV got into over competition scandals last year.