Who will be this years Christmas Number 1? (The X Factor)

Member Name: kellylouj

Product:	The X Factor
Date:	05/10/08 (208 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Entertaining, emotional entertainment.

Disadvantages: Drags on for weeks

As it is that time of year, normally I would shy away from writing a review about the programme that will be on our screens for the next few months but then again now the madness of the auditions have passed and the show is well on its way I decided to remember where it all began.

X Factor first blasted onto our screens back in 2004 and caused a lot of controversy with Simon Fuller the creator of the show "Pop Idol" this was because he felt that the idea of the show had been copied by Simon Cowell and his companies and an out of court settlement was agreed and now every year we wait for the new series with bated breath.

*~*Format of the show*~*

There are 4 stages to the X Factor, the audtions, boot camp, visit to the judges houses for the finalalists to be chosen and then the live shows where the viewers can select their winners and the judges control ends.

The auditions take place all over the UK and members of the public can queue for the auditions, as I have never been to an audition and have no desire to I cannot really comment on the process that happens and do not wish to comment on other people's opinions on what happens as I believe you should ony write about your own personal experience.
A lot of people find this the most enjoyable part of the entire show as we get to see not only some of the best talent in the UK, but also some of the worst and some of the rudest, ignorant people that exist.

Boot Camp is where all of those put through by the judges have to return and sing a song from a set playlist in front of the judges and it is this performance that they see if that person still has the "X" Factor that they first saw in the auditions.
Some of the people that audition have a story and of course the media like to pick up on this and make a short story whilst the auditions are taking place.

The visit to the judges houses is when the judges know which category they have been given such as the Girls, Boys, Groups and Over 25's.
The final 24 are then taken to each judges property and whittled down to the finalists, the emotions begin to take over as we witness those that get through to the live finals and those that have had their dream quashed.

The live finals then exist of a theme for each show and the contestants then have to show how versatile they can be and after each performance the contestants are judged by their mentor judge and the other judges and at the end of the show the phonelines open and the public are asked to vote for the contestant that they want to keep in.

*~*The Judges*~*

Previously the judging panel has consisted of Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne.
Last year in 2007 there was upset in the camp when Louis was sensationally sacked from the show and Simon, Sharon and new judge Dannii Minogue were the new panel, however after a few auditions it was realised that Louis was an integral part of the programme and he was brought back. Sharon Osbourne started to become a bit too much of a diva and there was a lot of disagreements between her and Simon and it was decided that for 2008 she would not be coming back and this year we have a new judge in Sharon's place, Cheryl Cole of Girls Aloud fame and previous reality star winner from similar show "Popstars - The Rivals".

When the contestants have to visit the judges homes they have a friend in the industry to help them make the decision and this has included Westlife, Sinitta and many more.

This year we have Simon Cowell mentoring the boys, Cheryl mentoring the girls, Dannii mentoring the over 25's and Louis mentoring the groups. The judges are competing against one another to have the winner of the "X" Factor and this, in my opinion, is where it all gets a little too over the top and some comments made to annoy the judges get a little too personal about some of the contestants which has happened on previous shows.

This year I am a little wary of the live finals as the previous winners have always left me somewhat disappointed and this year I hope we get something a little different.

Previous Winners of the "X" Factor include Steve Brookstein, Shayne Ward, Leona Lewis and Leon Jackson and with each winner they have had a bad background of some sort and makes me think that somehow this has influenced the decision of the voters, out of all of the winners, Leona too me is the only true winner and has an excellent voice and I still enjoy her album to this day and think she will be someone to stay around in the charts for a few more years to come.

*~*2008's Potential Winner*~*

The Girls - Cheryl Cole
Diana Vickers - Aged 17 from Lancashire
Alexandra Burke - Aged 20 from North London
Laura White - Aged 17 from Manchester

The Boys - Simon Cowell
Eoghan Quinn - Aged 16 fron Derry
Austin Drage - Aged 21 from Essex
Scott Bruton - Aged 19 from Manchester

The Groups - Louis Walsh
Bad Lashes - From Durham/Hartlepool the band consists of Sam Bennett aged 21, Stacey Lincoln aged 20, Sophie Wilson aged 23, Emily McNamee aged 19.

JSL - From London the band consists of Marvin Humes aged 23, Jonathan Gill aged 21, Ortise Williams aged 21.

Girlband - From Bristol the band consists of Tita Lau aged 19, Phoebe Lau aged 17, Marissa Billitteri aged 19.

The Over 25's - Dannii Minogue
Ruth Lorenzo - Aged 25 from Surrey
Daniel Evans - Aged 38 from Essex
Rachel Hylton - Aged 26 from London

All of the contestants are talented and offer something a little different to previous contestants but I have a feeling that Daniel may be our winner this year.

One thing is for sure this show will be dominating Saturday night television until Christmas when the winner will be releasing their first ever single in the hope of becoming a Christmas number 1.

The programme is entertaining and I have to say that my husband and I are both hooked.

Summary: An entertaining show.