I didn't really watch her first series so I can't really comment on that - I don't know anything about the feud with Sharon Osbourne or anything. All I know is that she mentored the boys and won with Leon Jackson.

Last year she mentored the Over-25s. She had a mixed category for me - Daniel had the sob story so that was never going to win me over, Rachel had a very distinctive voice but her personality throughout the Live Finals turned me against her. I remember her and Dannii falling out over a song choice in one week. Then she had Ruth who was by far, the best in her category and quite rightly went the furtherest out of the three in the competition. Having said that though, it seemed Dannii was barely there last year. Princess Cheryl swanned in and bumped her down the judging panel away from King Simon's big throne on the right (or left whichever way you look at it ). There was a spat with Louis over a Take That song which reduced her to tears. That was her most memorable moment of 2008. She also had to put up with snide comments from Sharon in the press. She did handle it all with a quiet air of dignity though, with no retorts which made Sharon look like a bitter old hag.

This year, however, Dannii seems to be on top form, she seems to be the only one who gives constructive comments to all contestants without trying to pull down another act who isn't in her category just because they may be a threat to her own. Simon's "mind games" comment after Danyl's performance on Saturday did seem rather ironic considering he did do something very similar to Lucie the week before. There's also been a few reports that Dannii is very hands-on with mentoring and sounds like she's the hardest working of them all - she even turned up at the house when one of her acts celebrated her birthday (Stacey, was it?). Could you imagine Simon or Cheryl doing that?

I only ask this question because I see a lot of threads and comments around criticizing Cheryl and Simon for being hypocritical, smug, bitchy, underhanded etc etc. Any negative comments about Louis always revolve around him and his inability to say anything other than "you'll be in the final" or "you're the dark horse of this competition" - which ends up making him look like a dithering old fool and someone had clearly forgotten to crush those pills into his dinner earlier.

Hardly any negativity surrounding Dannii really. She just comes across as the most genuine and approachable one of the lot. Ok, I think it's clear by now that she's MY favourite judge this year, but is she yours?

P.S. If you managed to read all this, then well done! Gold star for you!

Not had a fav in any of the years watching as I just go with the flow of how they act etc. But yes this year Danni does seam to be the one who is all about the acts and not herself. And yes she is the only one imo who gives constructive comments to all of them.

She keeps in touch with them afterwards as well, according to what Rhydian and Leon have said in interviews. She was plugging their albums on her blog too, and it seems that Ruth has become a friend more than ... what's the best term - associate? And Nicole (one of Dannii's final six who didn't make the live shows) said in a recent interview: "Dannii called me yesterday out of the blue – I was in bed and I was like, 'Sorry, Dannii who?' She said she still wants to follow my progress and she has a writer that wants to work with me who saw me at the bootcamp stages."

I think Simon needs to show her some respect.

she is my fave judge

Awwww! I love Dannii!
But yepp, Simon needs to show her more respect, instead of trying to please Cheryl all the time...

I like Dannii, she seems to be a bit more truthful with the acts (without being rude) where sometimes the other judges just gush.

She's even recovered from her blip with the "changing the gender references" thing with Danyl, which says a lot for her popularity.

i love dannii but very few of my froends and family like her tbh...shes defo most popular around here but im not sure shes the nations favouraite.....

She was always my favourite judge and has especially shone this year. I almost always agree with Simon, but this series he's been shamelessly and desperately plugging his own acts to the point where the others are unfairly forgotten. Cheryl has a very limited vocabulary and can come across as quite bitchy when criticising contestants. Louis doesn't have much to say, but I do like the way he's stood up to Simon this year.

By far, Dannii is the most likeable and even more so after her Piers Morgan interview. She just seemed so genuine and caring.

I like Danni the most of all the judges....

Cheryl has only been there 5 mins and she is already getting TOOOO big for her boots

yeah dannii is by far my fave this year- have always liked her but this year she has gone way up in my estimations

simon and cheryl have gone down in my estimations, especially simon though and i like louis this year more than ever before, but dannii wins for me!!

I think that the other judges say what they are told to say by the producers, (except that Simon who is of course part of the production team.), but Dannii has been standing up for herself, and doesn't bow to the producers wishes.
It could be a reason why she was sidelined last year, and only had her contract renewed because she is popular with the public.
She is also a very good mentor, and in addition, same again, I don't think that she allows her acts to be stitched up by the producers, whereas for example, both Lloyd and Jamie are deliberately given unsuitable songs, imo.

She's my favourite

Dannii is my fav, I find simon and cheryl uncomfortable to watch. I find it strange that the comments cheryl has given to danyl (cocky. arrogant and you dont do it for me) are how I know I feel about her. I think she can turn it around she just needs to take a step back.

She always has been. Just people have been blinded by Cowell's portrayal of Cheryl as Princess Cole the Nation's Sweetheart and now view Dannii as a spare part which could not be more true. She's the judge that the contestants want mentoring them, that says more than anything else.

She's classy, respectful and honest. As well as drop dead gorgeous. If she left I probably wouldn't watch anymore - I find Simon and Cheryl nauseating and cringeworthy, and everything is getting so much more scripted and fake I'm losing the will to stick with it anyway.

I think she always was, it's just that the neg image media has been given her probably affects some.

She certainly has taken the crown from St Cheryl of Cole (IMHO) this year. I adore her. Balanced, funny, respectful, insightful and looks smokin' too boot!

I should say...I love Cheryl as well and am really enjoying the rapport between all of the judges this year - much better than previous years

I think Dannii always has been the favourite? She's...well I can only sum it up with perfection really. Cheryl's hot yes but lets face it that's all Cheryl is there for, whereas Dannii contributes something to Xfactor and really tries to be honest with the contestants.

I have nothing more to add to what you have already said!

Dannii has pretty much been the best judge overall since she has been there.

Cheryl has a lot of what I would call "superficial" support, but most people agree that Dannii is the one who takes the actual "mentoring" part of the show seriously, and the one who is mostly fair and thoughtful in her comments to ALL the acts, not just her own.

What I would say, in the nicest possible way, is that Dannii is the "grown up" of the judges. She does her job professionally, she is a lovely young woman. Whilst I really like Simon, Cheryl and Louis, they don't show the maturity and honesty that Dannii shows. That is why she is my favourite judge, even though none of her acts are in my top 3 this year.


If they were to get rid of her, I would seriously consider giving X Factor a miss and doing something else with my life over these few weeks. Would very much depend on
A) Why she left - if its totally her choice, then fine.
B) Who they replaced her with.

Great post Lizzy, well said.

She's been my favourite judge since she joined the show - she's not at all egotistical and she genuinely cares for her acts (unlike certain others) which IMO are the best qualities to have in a mentor. But I agree with one of the above posts, with the general public she's still not that popular. Out of all of my friends and family I can only think of 2 other people who like her, most still say Cheryl is their favourite

I like dannii she cares about her acts and comes across caring and she is honest with her opinions and she always looks lovely

Yep, she's my favourite.

love her