I think an interesting sub-plot makes the whole show even more appealing.

Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised in the least, although to be fair they aren't actually doing anything wrong. ALW is merely surrendering absolute control of his show in exchange for extended and valuable publicity for it, while letting the public believe they are actually having a say in its overall destiny - which, of course, they are. In his position we'd probably all do the same thing.

Of course I realise that, but from my perspective she isn't the Chosen One hence she can get eliminated at any stage of the competition including tonight. I do agree that ALW always has set favourites and his desperation for that individual to win has, in the past, actually left me wondering why he casts using a reality show-actually for me this was most evident in the Eurovision show with Jade Ewen.

I just think that this interpretation has come far too early-for a start just because she sung a line 'what a set up-holy cow!' that means absolutely nothing. Besides which 'set up' is a highly negative statement...

I do agree that some of the praise was heaped on certain people and then when it came to choosing the final ten others were actually chosen, but to say he praised Tamsin Outhwaite purely because she had the 'chosen one' in her group is just silly-maybe he actually thought she performs the role well?! Not sure if you watched the show, but each of the "stars" said there was one particular Dorothy that they thought was perfect-it wasn't just Tamsin....

But my final and perhaps deadly blow to your argument is that Danielle didn't stick out in my mind one bit-I remember wondering who she even was when the final ten were announceed. If the whole show was designed to inculcate her into our minds then I would say it failed miserably-indeed her odds with the bookies further demonstrate that.

I genuinely looked at the bookies odds a few days ago and thought-well there's no way Amy will go in the first week, purely based on extra publicity etc, etc, I also thought Steph was talented and hence had earmarked Danielle as the probable first candidate to leave. Of course this is a bit early especially considering I haven't even heard them perform a full song so I'll reserve judgement, but those were my genuine first thoughts. Anyway time will tell and we'll see who was right!

Well, there we go xfactorfan. If Danielle goes before the top 5 you were more right than me, if she gets into the top 5, I was more right than you.

And if she wins, I'm buying an ipad.

I'd agree with you there. I didn't find her particularly outstanding and memorable, more a case of being adequate.

But I guess with this kind of thing it would be a gradual and subtle push in her direction each week. Remember, the key is we are not to actually know we are being influenced.

Personally, however, she wouldn't have been my choice and it wouldn't matter how much she may be pushed forward, it wouldn't change my mind.

Will be interesting if this is how it works out and simply adds more intrigue to the whole spectacle.

Indeed I can't wait

I dont think there's absolutely any way they would pick someone as their desired winner, and then not put them through in the ten. If the judges picked 5/10 and the public 5/10 then perhaps fair enough, but if the whole point is to disguise favouritism of a certain girl, putting her through automatically with nine others really doesnt single her out at all. I cant particualrly remember much about any of the girls at the moment, and I imagine most people cant.. I dont think they'd risk the perfect Dorothy going home after singing just a few lines.

They did put her through in their final ten.

I think you are referring to Emilie, yes i found that very strange after being praised so highly. And Amy going through astonished me as i'm sure she didn't even get a mention.


It will be interesting to see if you are right

Were she the chosen one, theres no way ALW would risk her in the PV......there could have been Facebook campaigns for any of the others which would derail her......and one out of ten is rubbish odds.

After the second song, JP praised Amy for her performance and CC said she gave the best overall performance out of the four of them so think she has a couple of supporters amongst the judges, but it was obvious ALW wouldnt have put her through if it had just been down to him

Ah right tks for that, my memory isn't the best

Aaah, the 'Chosen One'. I was wondering how long it would be before that phrase would be trotted out!

In every Talent Show, there's always a 'Chosen One', a 'Forum Favourite' (who often gets booted out in a 'shock eviction'), and a 'Forum Villain' (disliked by the majority of posters on the forum for no discernable reason).

It's easy to forget that there are millions of people who sit and watch these shows without analysing things in the minutest detail.

Very true!

Who was the 'forum favourite' and 'forum villain' during 'Id do anything'?

Forum favourite was split between Jodie and Jessie. Forum villan started out as Rachel but Sam took over nearer the end.

ooo interesting about Rachel, thought she would have been a favourite on the forum.

I hope you make a killing at the bookies, FXDUX, but I have to say that xfactorfan had a point about Danielle not standing out in the second show. If anything, the first show portrayed the back stories for Claire Hillier and Tegan quite a lot (well, enough for me to notice, anyway) and, given that there were still so many contestants who were unfamiliar, the three who stood out for me were Danielle, Jessica and Stephanie. All three can sing, natch, but it was highlighted that Danielle can dance, Jessica can act and Stephanie has amazing red lips...

The second show didn't disabuse me of my preference for these three, but did add Sophie into the mix, as well as Jenny, who gave a stand-out performance. I didn't pick up on any of ALW's hints but, hey, we're talking subliminal, right? So no suprise there.

I'd never believed the tosh about 'The Chosen One' until the Jade fiasco in the Song for Europe thingy, but now I give it a bit more credence. It will be interesting to see how this progresses.

Oh, and I think the 'Forum Favourite' in IDA, who got booted out in a shock eviction, would have been Sarah Lark after the Mr Bojangles song.

She wasn't at first but after her first sing off people seemed to warm to her, I know I did.

Does anyone remember the few thread and tabloid articles saying Sam and Rachel didn't like each other? Sam was at Rachel's wedding!

While Rachel's professionalism and ability were appreciated on the forum, she was difficult to warm to, especially in the early part of the competition.

I think Rachel would have won if she'd been able to project a more likeable personality. She was certainly set up to be the Connie/Lee of IDA.

I think the forum warmed to her towards the end because she started getting a harder time from the judges, she showed a bit more vulnerability and her experience started looking very attractive when 3 out of the top 5 are Jessie, Sam and Niamh.

Sarah Lark was a bit of a forum fav round here. She certainly had more support here than amongst the general pop.

I'd never picked up on anything really until ALW might have well said he wanted Jessie to win by the end of Nancy.
Having said that as a previous poster said - you can't really blame him - its his show.
Its very interesting to propose however that the influencing process starts from the get go - I shall pay more attention!

No one has stood out for me yet. I thought Amy sang well but doesn't look like Dorothy.

I think Lloyd Webber always has his favourites but he's really bad at manipulating the public vote. But he will save them over anyone in a sing off no matter how much they get their ass kicked!

I ask this question and mean no disrespect whatso ever ,
Does ALW have Asbergers syndrome ? He seems to have a very poor social skills and finds it hard to read the public and shows alot of signs of it
Or am I all wrong and he is simply who he is .?

I think it's just who he is.

I don't know about the "chosen one" at this point, but I did find it strange that Danielle stood out to me in the audition shows as the obvious front-runner, and then the judges barely talked about her in the Top 20. In fact, they highly praised her groupmates when two of them didn't even get picked for the Top 10. I can only think that either they went sour on her, or the OP is right and they're hiding her for some reason. If they really turn on the praise tonight, I think we might have our answer.

As for me, Danielle is still my choice as the most obvious Dorothy, but I picked up two other favorites in the Top 20 show who I'm not naming yet because things might change after the first live show. I don't understand the current bookies' fave, though, because I don't see anything special about Stephanie at all.

Speaking of bookies' odds, if the OP is right about this theory, someone stands to make a killing if they bet on Danielle.