Lottiejenkins, you were right about the LD aspect of Britain's got Talent.

[myredcardigan]

I was lurking on a teelyaddicts thread the other day were people were discussing the various acts on BGT. Lottie said something about them ridiculing those with LDs to make good tv. She was jumped on for being sensitive and everyone said nobody had noticed any contestants with LDs.

Well today I read (and heard on news) something about Susan Boyle the woman who wowed the crowd with her amazing voice. It said she'd been starved of oxygen at birth and suffered LD throughout her life as a result. ITV have said they had no idea.

Anyway, it just goes to show that Lottie was right. And it made me sad to think how she would have been treated if she didn't have such a spectacular voice.
Just wanted to let Lottie know she was obviously spot on in her observations.

Just bumping

Must admit I can't bare to watch that programme when they are making fun of people, it is so painfull to watch. I have seen clips of Susan Boyle and fair play to her, she is a breath of fresh air.
I did feel cynical when I heard they weren't going to give her a makeover, they are obviously going to sell her as she is when most people get the full works.

I hope she has a ball any way.

It makes for very uncomfortable viewing.

I auditioned for x-factor last year and what I didn't know until then was that you have to get through three sets of auditions before making it through to see the judges, so I can only assume that bgt happens in the same sort of format. So people are told three times that they are good enough/what the show is looking for, only to be deliberately put through for entertainment fodder.

There is ample opportunity for the producers to say "no sorry, you've not made it through to the next bit) if it becomes apparent that a contestant has some form of LD's or that they are vulnerable.

Exploiting anyone is vile, but exploiting someone who doesn't have the capasity to realize that they are being exploited is just horrible.

That being said, where are the families of these people? Why on earth do people encourage their family member to go on these shows if they know they just don't have the ability? (after all with some it is blatently obvious).

As for susan boyle "the producers didn't know" yeah right. They might not have known that she was starved of oxygen at birth and had some level of LD, but it was fairly obvious that she's not your run of the mill 40 something woman, and IMO if she'd just been a typical housewife she probably wouldn't have got through (you don't have to be crap to be rejected at the first stage).

I don't see why she isn't your run of the mill 40 + year old. She seems perfectly "normal" to me. (hate that word)

She has been caring for her parents and that could be why she has never had a realtionship.

I never said she wasn't normal. But she certainly didn't come across as your average 40 something year old - she was ... what you might say... querky.

I wouldn't necessarily have said she had ld's tbh but I certainly thought she was odd (bear in mind I cannot see her so my judgements are based purely on what I hear, the way she came across etc).

And although she can sing I don't think she is a superstar, and I would put money on there being others with equal or better voices who will have been turned down because they didn't have something that made them stand out - be that in a positive or negative (a querky personality or a sob story).

At the end of the day shows like BGT trade off the humilliation factor. They run week after week after week of audition shows, during which 90% of the acts are hopeless causes who are just being put through to make entertainment. That's pretty low in itself, but perhaps one might accept that a proportion of those talentless wannabe's are just so desparate for fame that even exploitation is good enough for them. However it also needs to be accepted (IMO) that a proportion of those who are put through for exploitation purposes might be vulnerable, and might really have a dream, but not the capasity to realize that they are being exploited, or that they're really not good enough for anything other than to be laughed at by the several million people who watch these shows. And while it could be argued that someone should be looking out for them, in the event that someone isn't, those making the show do have some responsibility to choose who they exploit.

Susan Boyle was lucky in a sense. She opened her mouth and was able to sing. But what if she hadn't been? What if she'd been awful. Can you imagine what people would be saying? "omg did you see that woman? No wonder she's never been married...." etc. And even though she can sing, people are still remembering her because of how she looked/how she came across, and the surprise factor. Had she been stunning/average/mum of two do you think that the response would have been the same? that she would have got two million hits on youtube? honestly? Do you think people are really logging on to hear her voice? Or to have a good look.

I had wondered whether she had LDs from her mannerisms and lack of eye contact. Also,I was struck by how she sounds completely different with each song she sings. As if she is mimicing someone else singing it IYKWIM.

A stunning talent but I do hope she is getting the necessary support to cope with the frenzy.

have only seen one clip, she seems very articulate, if quirky,　Ｉsuppose if anything I would have thought spectrummy. anyway, hope that the programme is a positive experience for her.

lottie - that guy in the clip you linked to - at the very least IMO a glaringly obvious receptive language problem - the poor lad couldn't answer Simon's questions appropriately first try, he needed repeating/prompting.

where IS lottiejenkins? I started a thread telling her I had been to her sons school fatrm and she ignored me anyone would think she had a real life or something!

I agree with wannbe though but I think susan doyle was FANTASTIC. Honestly she is fab. I know someone who came quite high up in x factor though ( a friend of a friend) and they were soon discarded after the cash cow left the building

She is completely refreshing though

"Boyle is aware that some of the cynicism that greeted her arrival on stage at the Britain?s Got Talent audition stemmed from her frumpy appearance. She wore a gold lace dress that she?d bought for her nephew?s wedding but left her unruly hair uncombed and her face free of make-up. ?I know what they were thinking but why should it matter as long as I can sing? It?s not a beauty contest,? she says.

At the superficial end of the entertainment industry, however, appearance is paramount. Is she afraid she might come under pressure to have a makeover?

?Maybe I?ll consider a makeover later on,? she laughs. ?For now I?m happy the way I am ? short and plump. I would not go in for Botox or anything like that. I?m content with the way I look. What?s wrong with looking like Susan Boyle? What?s the matter with that??

"I?m content with the way I look. What?s wrong with looking like Susan Boyle? What?s the matter with that??" Oh I do agree with that. But sadly I don't think that society, and least of all the music industry, does.

Look at Michelle McMannus - she won such a tv talent show and disappeared out of the limelight as soon as she'd entered it, and one of the greatest reasons given was the fact that she was so overweight. Unfortunately the music industry is very beauty-focused. if you don't have the looks, or the figure, you stand little chance of making it.

I think Susan boyle will be under huge pressure to change her look. And I wouldn't at all be surprised if the "susan Boyle workout video" is on the shelves for christmas.

wannabe, dh said though that susan doyle could look 'nice' with her hair done and her moustache taken off make up done and a nice shiny new dress

Im here!!!!! SORRY!!!!! Ive been away at Margate! Thanks for your support everybody!