Z Factor

Time after time, year after year, hundreds of hopeful singers audition for the X Factor, convinced that they're the next big thing, only to have their dreams crushed by a panel of increasingly Z-list celebrities, much to the delight of millions of misery-seeking viewers. Although the majority of the normal judging panel have thankfully been replaced, Louis is still hanging around, more reliant on ITV than Katie Price is on Botox, presumably unable to cope with life without the show. I don't blame him for staying though, it must be difficult to compete with Simon Cowell when Westlife and Jedward are your only business assets. It's not all bad news though, as Kelly Rowland and the girl from N-Dubz have joined the panel, who are at least pleasant to the auditionees (sorry, I can't remember her name, and I'm not going to google it incase some some N-Dubz accidentally plays, and sabotages the Metronomy song i'm listening to). The best news of all however, is the addition of the lovely and not too ugly Gary Barlow. He seems to be a replacement for Simon, but he doesn't pull it off too well - he's simply can't compete with his predescessors harsh attitude.
I can't help wondering though, if all the competition to succeed in the X Factor is actually worthwhile. There have been some successful winners, such as Leona Lewis, but each series there are also an abundance of arguments, tears and tantrums, when an often delusional contestant is denied their "life-long dream" of a singing career - it can't be ignored that there are so many previous finalists and winners who have simply sunk without trace, despite the promise of fame, fortune and success.
Although it could be argued that auditioning for the X-Factor means you are leaving yourself open to ridicule, it seems somewhat cruel to deliberately choose people who are clearly not talented singers, simply for the viewers entertainment, particularly if they honestly think they have what it takes. This may be hypocritical of me, as I have many a time laughed at car-crash auditions, but it's sometimes easy to forget that these are actual people singing on stage - real people with real feelings. So, while I can't promise I won't stop watching the auditions (Gary Barlow, enough said), I may at least consider the fact that these people are doing the best they can, particularly as they have Louis Walsh staring back at them - knowing that he is the key to your future can't fill you with a great deal of confidence!