X Factor Show Faces "Fixing" Claims Again!

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It's hard to believe that a talent show can stir up so much emotion with the public (the last show attracted 16.7 million viewers!), but there is no doubt that it does.

Of course, the X Factor is unlike talent shows of the past, which didn't have the benefit of Simon Cowell's slick promotional skills. If there was a Nobel Prize for "manipulating" an audience, Cowell would have won it many times.

His ability to make viewers experience happiness, surprise, sympathy and anger is truly amazing and the public just can't get enough of it.

This is not the first time the show has been accused of "fixing", but does anyone really believe that Simon Cowell and the producers leave anything to chance?

The latest accusation involves Cheryl Cole and her decision not to vote against Katie Waissel or Treyc Cohen (on which act should leave the show), as she was the mentor for both girls. Dermot O'Leary then announced that the decision would go to a majority vote (rather than the act that received the fewest votes from the viewers).

Some viewers believe that the producers wanted to keep Katie Waissel on the show, but knew that she had less votes than Treyc, hence the decision to let the judges choose.

Seeing as the show does not actually reveal the number of telephone votes each act receives, there is no way of knowing if the voting is fixed or not (a little like some of the elections George Bush was involved in).

There is of course a simple solution to this problem and that is to hire an independent company that handles the telephone votes and insists that these are revealed in the show.

If this was done, the public would know exactly which act is the most popular and there would be no need for the judges to decide which of the bottom two should go home (just let the one with the least votes go).

At the moment the judges can "save" the least popular act with their votes, which is unfair. Is it any wonder the public are angry about this system.

Personally, I think the public are insane spending good money on telephone votes, when they have no idea which act is getting the most support and can see their votes wasted if the producers decide to change the rules.

What other business do you know that would be allowed to take so much money (millions) from the public without providing some proof? If you were to operate such a system you would be placed under investigation immediately.

It is a great shame the public are unable to show the same interest on more important issues (things that could improve our lives). Imagine the power more than 16 million people would have in changing government policies, or forcing the banks to act more responsibly.

Unfortunately, the public feel that supporting a talent show (with all its alleged fixes) and making Simon Cowell even richer, is a higher priority than spending cuts and increasing unemployment. But maybe we shouldn't be surprised, these same people are responsible for electing governments that shaft its voters too!