At least the contestants (and audience) must know what they're letting themselves in for by now! First and foremost, they are making a TV programme - which works as entertainment better than anything else at the moment if you go by viewing figures. Nobody can now argue that it also launches several careers. Leona Lewis, JLS, Alex Burke, Diana Vickers, Jedward are all still doing pretty well - and even the less profiled ones are able to do far more than before the show. I bet the lovely Andy Abrahams is still earning more and having a better working life than before the X Factor, even if he hasn't gone stratospheric!

I watch for the great performances and to see how certain people progress week by week - and there is a wider range of good ones this year. I suspect the top three won't be any better than usual - but I think there are more serious contenders at this stage than there have ever been before.

I agree - it is hugely annoying that Wagner is still there. At the same time, much as I like John, I just don't think he had the X Factor! A good voice, yes, but he didn't transfix me and I was getting a bit bored. As Simon Cowell says, it's a hugely tough business where rejection is the order of the day - and this has at least given him a great exposure.

I do, however, think that they are sometimes let down by song choice. Giving Matt that Britney Spears rubbish was genius - he turned it into a cool song (and I never thought I'd ever be able to to use the word 'cool' in relation to anything associated with Britney Spears!) John's song, in contrast, was rubbish - and I don't think he's been given the chance to show himself to his best. Having said which, I suspect the really talented and special ones (like Matt, Cher and Rebecca, IMO) manage to make an interesting performance out of whatever they're given - something John just hasn't been able to do!

Treyc also doesn't have the 'X Factor' I don't think. She's got an amazing voice but she's three or four years too late. We don't need another Alex Burke belting out songs in a middle of the road kind of way. That's why it's so great to see Cher, Katie and Matt this year. Rebecca is a case in point - in some ways she's quite a traditional singer but she has a unique quality that sets her apart from the crowd - unlike Treyc and John.

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