I see a lot of people saying Olly has been favoured the whole time by Simon Cowell and I don't get it at all? The guy has been on first for the Overs three weeks in a row, Simon Cowell has been a lot less passionate in his comments in comparison to Jamie and Danyl. Hell, Simon even confused him for Lloyd last week and when Dannii argued that this was no longer a singing competition, Simon hit out that the best singer Danyl was still there. I just don't see how he's favoured in any shape or form; if anything I would say he's the one that Simon cared least about in the beginning and is only claiming him as the potential winner because of his potential popularity.

He hasn't been favoured, but he hasn't been screwed over either

Danyl - Simon bigs this guy up FAR TOO MUCH and it annoys everyone. Look at the backlash.

Jamie - Song choices are a joke. Simon can't stand him. It's pretty obvious

Yes, I would agree with this. In any case...Simon is a terrible mentor this year.

Well I think that he's been given better song choices than the other overs (certainly compared to Jamie). And I don't think that he's had any real challenges yet. Even Come Together was as successful due to his personality.

The Official site loves Olly though. Lots of articles about him and video clips and even a song from him each week. ITV2 also seems to love him.
It all helps to build up his personality with the public.

he doesn't have to say it...
It's danyl who he hypes so that he'll have a breakdown due to the pressure and Jamie who he gives bad song choices to.

If you have read papers and seen some of the interviews over the last few weeks you would have seen/heard some of the comments that Simon likes Ollie a lot

The others even teased Ollie the other week on the Xtra factor about Ollie being Simon secret son as was always with him

Actually, for the first 3 weeks all the talk was about poor Olly being stitched up being on 2 then 3 then 1 and always first of the overs and that it was obvious he was SC's cannon fodder.

I have always had the impression that Simon likes him personally very much.

totally agree.In fact simon doesnt even hide the fact this is what he is doing.

If you believe the conspiracies that Simon manipulates the show for his favourites to win then Olly seems like a more likely candidate to be the "chosen one" than Danyl. Cheeky personality, good song choices, not peaking too soon, no bad press. Danyl would be the ratings booster, the one that divides the nation and gets everyone talking but ultimately doesn't win.

Plus, Olly is the only one not to be criticised by the judges. And, if we're going conspiracy theories, it's hard to avoid that these judges are paid by Mr Cowell.

I'm not saying this is the case. But that's the train of thought.

Simon knows his singing limitations and that he is a good performer, so he's been clever in giving him songs that can work these to his advantage.

Notice Danni and Cheryl are saying how the love him etc every week. Danyl just got ' you've not won it yet, there's a fine line blah blah' straight from the off.

Keeping him out of the press and not allowing him to peek too soon.

My thoughts exactly.

I agree about Ollie being neither favoured nor screwed over.

Going back to the auditions at the judges' homes, it seemed to me from the footage shown of Simon and Olly together that Simon was genuinely fond of him in a way that was not manifest in the clips of Simon with Jamie or Danyl. I felt there was a kind of chemistry between them, not romantic of course but of mutual regard.

Purely subjective judgement, and God knows what remained on the cutting room floor.

I think Olly's snuck under the radar a bit, and Simon's now cashing in on his popularity having seen the voting figures. If he were the favoured one from the outset he wouldn't have been put on so early three weeks in a row. I still don't think Simon wants him to win; his voice just seems a bit too mediocre for that. My money's on Joe, not Olly.

I am beginning to think that Olly will do an Alex this year. Dark horse.

Then he's got to have his moment, Alex did it with Listen. So far he's coasting, winning the popularity stakes with his cheeky chappie personality, but for the life of me I cann't hear the kind of album he'd make that is relevant. Simon goes on about a 'retro' style...oh dear he forced that on someone else in the recent past.

No, Joe should go to music college or a good music theatre school and hone his voice for musical theatre as I really do think that is where he is destined to make a living.

I think he's been terrible from XF 3 onwards, tbh.....except for Leona. He's always so 'obvious' about the cannon fodder in his group.

I'll never forget the utter mess he made of Nikitta - the terrible songs and the horrible outfits.

I agree, QM. I cannot see Olly having a great 'Listen' moment though. I think he's very one dimensional and really limited. He's turning into a shouter. His cheeky chappie thing does zilch for me. I find him quite odious.

EDIT: But the dark horse thing might still be the case for Olly, I think. He seems very popular.

Exactly what I was thinking.

LOL....what's he peeking at?

Er.. giving him the same style of song every week so that his limited range isn't exposed?

LOL bless.

I agree with the general consensus - that he is being favoured by dint of not beoing screwed over. I think I am seeing Olly at his best (still allowing for him to inprove over the series) and there is no barrier to me liking him.

I don't think that Jamie is allowed to perform at his best (song choices) etc and his setting Danyl up to be the hate figure.

I just hope for Olly's sake that Simon doesn't start farting about with him.