I don't want to put too much of a downer on this series, I'm enjoying it and will keep watching, though already the judges and their controversy is beginning to overshadow the talent.

The judges all said this year was the best ever for talent. Maybe they have to say that every year, to hype the ratings, but do you think this is collectively the most talented top 12? I'm not so sure it is, there's one or two standouts, but the rest...?

For me series 2 was collectively the most talented bunch of finalists.

Series 5 (last year) had the most talent for me.

Nope I think Series 5 was the best yet. This series is good and quite talented IMO but it was always going to pale in comparison to last year.

Was not impressed with Series 5 at all. This one is more to my liking.

Preferred Series 1 (for the overall talent and freshness) and 4 (for Leon).

Series 2 and Series 5 have been my favourites

Series 5 would be my second favourite, the final with JLS was good. But series 2 had that cracking final with Shayne, Journey South and Andy Abraham, where it was wide open in the voting, and along the way also took in memorable singers like Brenda and Maria.

No, I think last year was the best year ever. Laura and Alexandra were better than Stacey and Rachel (although I love Stacey), Ruth and Rachel were better than Danyl and Jamie, JLS were the best group the show has had IMO and Austin/Scott were better than Lloyd/Rikki.

Five by a long shot. Everybody bar Daniel had potential to have some sort of success.

Series 2 and 5 both stand out as having the strongest acts for me. I think this year is fighting for the wooden spoon with series 3 and 4 and at this early stage it's winning!

Whether it actually ends up the worst will depend on how people vote. If they vote on vocal ability the series should improve, however if the votes go to the novelty act, pretty faces or tears of desperation then I doubt whether I will see it through to the end!:yawn:

i think series 5 was the best but this series is great

The judges say the same thing every year, it doesn't mean much

Whereas last year there were a fair few contestants at this stage who were showing potential, this year I'd say far less in number are showing it.

Series 4 is forever being called the worst on these forums and while I wouldn't disagree with that view in general (I went to the XF tour afterwards and a lot of them were pretty average live), Rhydian is one of the stand out contestants from across the series so if the show is about finding a star, series 4 did its job.

Series 5 was the best, no-one this year seems to have any personality.

I loved Series 2, that was awesome. I think there's a lot of talent this year though.

Rhydian made series 4 for me.
Apart from that I went into last year with at least five favourites and I gathered Austin along the way. On average I thought that last year was better than this.

However Alex, Laura and Rachel lost my interest to varying degrees during the shows, so maybe I will start to get excited about some of these guyx.

Didn't see series 1 and 2

Series 3 - Wouldn't have been so one sided I reckon if Ben had gone through to the final 2. As soon as Ray went through, you knew Leona had it in the bag

Series 4 - Rhydian was running away with it until by some miracle Leon won, but otherwise this was just a dull forgettable series

Series 5 - Bit of a foregone conclusion who was going to win when Beyonce came out to sing with Alexandra and just the way Alexandra was shoved down our throat on the pre-result Xtra Factor was frankly nauseating

My favourite series - Despite the inevitable result I would have to say last year marginally beats out Series 3 although I never agreed with who won

Just think some of the acts this year lack that certain something that will make them a star whoever does go on to win

My favourite series has been No 3 and No 5 (though I've watched every one ) - we'll have to see how this one develops

Series 1 My all time fav Steve Brookstein great voice

Series 5 last year great talent so hard to chose at least 4 worthy winners.

Series 5 was the best in terms of talent, I think. Though this series is shaping up to be my second favourite series as I think there is strong talent this year, aside from a few acts.

Series 1 was meh
Series 2 was good
Series 3 was great because of Leona
Series 4 worst year, terrible winner and a general lack of talent
Series 5 was best talent wise.

I'd say ...

5
2
6
4
1
3

series 5 was the best. classic x factor with all the best talent. for me, this year they have started all this silly live audition process nonsense, and the whole studio set up this year is not to my liking, plus im not sure its up there talent-wise as it was last year

Season 5 was the best year thus far. Lots of Talent and some real stand out performers.

This year seems to be focusing, less on actual singing ability, and more on hype and the ability of the acts to provide some sort of entertainment and/or novelty value.

Still entertaining though, but for all the wrong reasons.

The X-Factor is no longer a singing competition.

I agree.

I am genuinely surprised at the amount of support for series 5.

Our household thought it was so dreadful (with the exception of Ruth), that Strictly Come dancing was the preferred choice.

This year most certainly is not the best year.

The standard is quite low this time around IMO.

I believe that series 5 was the best so far.

Series 5 was the most talented, Series 4 was the most diverse.