Adam

And who'd know more about mediocre than someone with a Bloc Party signature :naughty: 'Flux' is AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZING, otherwise mediocity central! I really don't think you can call this years batch mediocre, there's a few who really could carve fantastic careers for themselves - I'm thinking Alexandra, Diana, Laura and Austin, result regardless which is a bit of a shame but relevant nonetheless. I certainly think it's the strongest bunch ever. I know you said it was the show that was mediocre but your insinuation was that that means the contestants are too! The Bloc Party comment was very tongue in cheek by the way, and before anyone dives on me, J clearly has an opinion so I'm just stating mine as a response, it's no crime!

The BBC website says this about Freema's character - "But fate intervenes to confront Jenny with choices beyond anything she could have imagined" - did she really do that in the first episode?

Ive watched it now and I really enjoyed it - I HOPE Freema isn't dead, that'd be ace! I really like the main character, she's very likeable. Why are they all in the same place though? Are all the survivors just from the same area or are there actually lots of survivors in different parts of the country? That would make it less special to be honest. Loved the twist at the end though, hope it continues well!

Not only does this annoy me because some contestants have already sung it in the competition but it does nothing to stop the calls of 'fix' that WILL inevitably come as a result. Anyone who has ever stuck up for the X Factor as a format is going to have egg on their face as even if it is a totally innocent decision, people are going to quite fairly say that the show is 'fixed' in Diana's favour (notice I said fairly, not rightly)... I just hope it's not true.

Oh bum! I came in to say how I can't ever go into Doctor Who threads as I only just finished series 3 but that I love Freema and that Martha is my preferred assistant to Rose in the new series, and how I look forward to seeing her in this. THEN I see that a) it's already begun and B) she's probably DEAD!!! :(

It's an interesting theory, I haven't heard increasing rumours personally but if they are spreading then it's very possible. I forgot to say I think song choices are VERY important this week - if Alexandra does do Unbreak My Heart as her American classic as I'm hoping - and if she does do it as well as I'd expect, then I think potentially she could go through on the strength of her songs this week as opposed to the strength of the fanbase she already has - so I'm hoping she has a good week. Also, she is really due a week towards the end of the line up after surviving two weeks in a row performing second and first respectively - so there are factors which could work in her favour. As much as Ruth is my second favouite, as far as I'm concerned, she is expendible (sp?) if it means Alexandra's safe passage to the semi.

Calm down Jack, it's opinion - you think Ruth has performed well and Bert clearly doesn't! I think ONE of Alexandra and Ruth will be gone next week. It was almost a blessing for JLS to be bottom two and saved at this stage, because 'the bounce back effect' is almost certain to save them coming bottom of the results this week, and there's no bottom two for them to be in danger (I think they will come fourth in the votes). I've seen status updates 'cant believe JLS were bottom two - SO voting next week'. As a result, I think Alexandra OR Ruth will slip to the bottom of the votes and leave us - the other will come third, IMO.

WAHEY! And he comes in for the steal! 14 - Jordin Sparks - Tattoo 05 :wub: 19 - Katy Perry - Hot N Cold 04

I don't think they were suggesting it's alternate on purpose, that's just the way it's turned out so far. For some reason despite only three categories, Andy, Shayne and Journey South all made the final in series 2... Shoat - as for Slave 4 U, I want to see her do a kickass PERFORMANCE (which I believe S4U offers), and a top vocal too which is why I chose Unbreak My Heart. I believe her USP is that she is a total all rounder which none of the others really can offer and I want her to play to that strength. I don't think any Britney song is particularly vocally challenging tbh!

Well nothing is certain, the leaked reports we had suggested the top 3 on a regular basis were Diana, Eoghan and JLS - so things can change. Besides, I'll be very happy with third. At the top of the competition people were predicting Alexandra would be the early shock exit, so at least she has survived that!

Much as you've picked my favourite two, they are all fit to sing in the final because they are all good singers, some better than others. I am wanting an Alexandra Ruth Diana final, though I don't know what I'm predicting anymore, maybe Diana Eoghan Alexandra? I think it'll be really close for the last place in the final though. As for next week, I want Alexandra to do Britney's 'Slave 4 U' and Toni Braxton's 'Unbreak My Heart'

I agree, I'm thinking third place IF she survives next week.. Ruth seems to have boosted herself and JLS fans will get behind their boys next week for sure... I think next week she needs an upbeat Britney song, with a routine, and Unbreak My Heart as her American classic. But Cheryl has last pick on songs next week

Rachel was my least favourite overall, but after that she didn't deserve to go anywhere. JLS were dire and she was amazing :(

Stand By JAAAAAAAAY ELLLLLLL ESSSSSS f*** OFF!

YESSSSSSSS!!!! First on and still not in the bottom two, Alexandra DOES have a fanbase! Oh my god I'm so happy! I hope (though I doubt) that JLS go home, less competition!

Oh there's no doubt he has a voice, but I'm so biased against him, I despised him last year. Still do. Look at that eyes closed, pompous grin face.

I was disappointed that they were miming but it was still fun in an odd way. Someone shoot Rhydian, please!

Well yes and I'm sure I got it wrong at the beginning but it's been on screen literally hundreds of times! People KNOW it's not 'Owen'!

1) I think the bookies are being kind to Alexandra... I can see her bottom two :( 2) Can people please spell Eoghan's name right please, it's six letters, like the word letter itself. Not hard! ---------------- Best to worst.. 01. Alexandra - Relight My Fire I was so not convinced about this, it was the predictable choice and I said to people 'if she doesn't do a different version, she's in danger'. Well, I'm REALLY happy with what she did! What a ballsy version! You could tell she had a sore throat so the vocals weren't impeccable BUT they had attitude if you like, her movement and the persona she put into the performance were just brilliant. Nobody in the show can put on a performance like Alexandra can, plus she came across as funny as hell. Very pleased but very worried as she's on first. However if she can get through tonight, Cheryl has GOT to put Diana on first for the next couple of weeks, no? 02. Ruth - Love Ain't Here Anymore I loved the reigned in part at the beginning, just beautiful. She looked and moved like a star, I wasn't aware of the song particularly, but I really enjoyed it. She sang beautifully. Wouldn't call it mindblowing but was lovely. 03. Diana - Patience I thought she emoted well but am a bit annoyed with her. WHY did she just ignore Gary's advice? She sounded awful not pushing it and going for the big notes in the first chorus, there were dodgy notes all over the shop. Some of it was great though. 04. Rachel - Rule The World As with Diana, I thought the high notes were dodgy throughout, however she looked great and some notes were great. I thought it was a bit karaoke in parts and she never seems to deliver on the money notes, but when she was on it, it was good. 05. JLS - A Million Love Songs I don't think Aston opened well, I thought the chorus sounded messy, I think the harmonies throughout weren't great, I just thought it was really average. I liked the big note at the end from Aston, but I thought the best thing about it was the lady pianist. For a boyband, it wasn't great IMO. 06. Eoghan - Never Forget I don't get what they see in him. The comments could be written without seeing the performance. I thought it was dire! Totally underwhelming, I couldn't hear him over the Bavarian schoolgirls. The only climactic bit was the breakdown at the end, and that was no doing of his. Just boring, imo. Overall Unlike other weeks, for me my favourites shone in order of preference today! 01. Alexandra 02. Ruth 03. Diana 04. JLS 05. Eoghan 06. Rachel Other points VERY happy with the comments for Alexandra, absolutely love Louis for butting in to say she's the best singer since Leona, hallelujah! Poor Dannii, it might have seemed a bit OTT but in Xtra Factor, Simon really stuck up for her which was nice, saying Dannii had first choice and total right and Louis threw this toys out the pram. Rachel was very nice about her too and said to stop disrespecting her. She still doesn't look happy (Dannii) though. I am really worried for Alexandra, why is she on first this week when she was second last week? At least if she survives, Cheryl MUST put her on second of the girls next week. However I'm predicting a Rachel/Ruth/Alexandra bottom two - probably R&R but second possibility for me is Rachel and Alex

I'm still VERY worried for her being on first, but she did EXACTLY what I wanted! Switched it up, wasn't copycat, good girl!

I only know one official song choice for tonight, hers. And without saying it, unless she switches it up and makes it different, I can't see it being the spectacular performance she needs at this stage of the competition... I'm worried.

Excuse me, I wasn't defending Simon Cowell as a being, as an industry insider, as anything. I was defending myself and your arrogance to assume anybody who buys something associated to him as 'stupid' or 'sheep' Firstly, it wasn't even his campaign, the Sun brought it to him as his show has the biggest platform for awareness, whether the campaign is right or wrong (which is an opinion, sorry everybody doesn't share yours). Simon Cowell can't make a charity single for everything. At the end of the day he is an entertainment entrepeneur and the campaign he has lended support to has made a lot of money for what I believe is a worthy charity, whether we should be in Iraq or not. I brought it because I am a fan of one of the contestants and because I wanted her voice on record, not because I am interested in lining the pockets of anyone associated with the industry.

Also, with regards to the rest of that point, listen to ANY performance of Issues by the Saturdays. I am not trying to say they are a band in any sense, but there are NO expensive sets, the Saturdays provide all the beautifully harmonised vocals, all live, and Una accompanies the song on guitar. And the girls don't need autotune, as their live lounge performances demonstrated... It's all well and good to say you're criticised for liking 'obscure' music, without people appreciating the music itself, but then to make an ignorant comment like that where you bandy the Saturdays into any generic girlband grouping isn't going to help your cause.

Do you know what I'm sick of? Being called a sheep in every topic going because I brought a product related to Simon Cowell. You're mistaking 'being a sheep' with 'being one of the many fans of one of the biggest shows on tv'. Just because lots of people watch and buy the products doesn't take anything away from the fact it's one of the most entertaining and talked about shows on television. Buying the X Factor single doesn't make me stupid. I didn't buy it because I want to please Simon Cowell or 'line his pockets', I brought it because I like the song, I am a fan of many of the contestants and it's for a good cause (something people mocked before 'oh, only 29p will actually go to the charity' when in fact every penny has, including what would usually be taxed on it). So please stop inferring that because I brought such a product, I am stupid. I am degree educated, in a good job and have many interests outside music, liking and even admiring Simon Cowell does NOT make me a sheep. Leave it.

While I wouldn't ever want to use the phrase 'turdified comparison' :P, it is such an irrelevant point to compare Metallica with the Saturdays. It can so easily be done the other way around, take a new indie/metal (don't think I can't tell the difference, by the way, you mentioned indie AND metal as being more prolific sales wise) group and compare them to a well established popstar. You don't hear us going 'Oh my god, the Wombats are such a failure - they've sold next to nothing compared to Madonna' - of course they haven't, they've been around for a fraction of the time, haven't had chance to build up such a solid fanbase and besides - not every act can be the biggest seller in their genre, and there are thousands of pop acts out there. For a new girlband they have exceeded expectations. And I'm not a total pop lover before you call it bias, I prefer the Wombats to Madonna by about a million percent before my other example. They are NOT totally failing, and from what I've seen, the public is quite fond of them.