I have not seen one positive post about him as a judge. Everyone I speak to does not like him. Will the controversy alone secure him a place on next years panel or will his overwhelming unpopularity see him off? Unlike Louis and Simon who have in the past been the panto villain, Gary has just come across as a villain.

Also will his career as an artist be affected?

I like him.

...but that may be only because I think he's hawt. lol

He's an ok judge but a terrible mentor.

no i dont like him he seems to full of himself

I like him but he made some bad choices at judges houses but it's his first year hopefully he'll learn from this year and that goes for all of them if they come back.

Thats a fair point. I have altered the title of the thread to reflect that.

As he and the others are all reading from a script there's no opinion to be made.

I like him and I like Kelly too...

The vitriol spoken about both on here is way OTT imo

Well it comes across as though he has been given Simons script and yet its not working for him.

Rubbish. I'm really beginning to hate people uttering these utterly clueless and ridiculous accusations.

Calling it scripted is a lie. It's just false. People who say scripted don't really mean scripted as in they learn everything by heart and repeat it. "Scripted" is ridiculous hyperbole and I lose all respect for anyone who calls it scripted.

Will you withdraw your accusation of it being scripted, ie. criminal, now? You people claiming it's scripted aren't half as clever or in-the-know as you think you are. It's the latest faddist bandwagon joke to ride on.

Manipulated? Sure, smart people knew that from the very start. It's the same with EVERY show. It's not scripted.

When it gets to the point where we can't even discuss our opinions on the show without someone coming in screaming "waaa waaa, no real people just scripted" then enough is enough.

I've liked him less with every show, completely full of his own importance and beyond arrogant. He's also a hypocrite with the stuff he said to Louis about what he told Frankie at the weekend, Gary said far more hurtful things to Sammi.

I hope he's not back next year.

I like him but he has exercised poor judgement in the debacle that was Frankie Cocockrot.

...

People who say it's scripted don't mean it literally. It's, as you said, just hyperbole.

Has anyone actually seen any real mentoring going on this year ?

Yes. I think Tulisa has worked hard with her acts.

I'm ashamed to admit that I thought he was going to be quite good on X Factor

I was wrong

You needn't be ashamed. I think a lot of people were expecting him to be good.

I would have had a lot more respect for him as a judge if he could admit his mistake with Frankie.

hes actually a very nice guy and. just needs to defy the producers and not read their script

His acts all have good things to say about him, which I think says something. Even when he's said he picked the wrong song, none of them have complained.

I don't think you can judge on what kind of a mentor he is, as it's all behind-the-scenes. However, if you're basing it on something, how about jogging/training with Craig, and sending a nutritionist to give him a customised diet? [And it was Craig who mentioned wanting to lose weight.]

Frankie was a shit, but we don't know what happened. Could be he was told to take him on. Look at Kelly choosing Janet over Jade. That was an awful decision, but doesn't make her a bad judge/mentor.

I don't like him because he's a Tory but I think he's a great judge. It's very refreshing to have judges who actually know what they're talking about. Hearing Cheryl critique singing was like an awful joke, especially with Danyl.

I love all the judges this year. Its lovely not to have to hear that Cole thing, putting on an even thicker Geordie accent for effect.

Love Gary, although i do find it odd, that he seems to be in charge? I thought that Louis should be head judge by default when Simon left. Love Kelly too

I do think hes a good judge. i think they all are doing a good job with their acts.

However, Gary is soooooooo BIAS to his own acts! He always over praises his acts and even admitted he lied about Frankie one time. Hes one of them "yes" ppl. He should really be honest and critique his acts more like he does the other contestants

apart from that i think hes great........and handsome!

Not a lot. The judges keep saying that the show is about the acts - but it isn't - its about them. I think Tulisa seems to make some sort of effort.

Put it this way - apart from Tulisa's (one group left now!!!) how many of the acts left are actually performing better than they were at the auditions? Craig hasn't moved on at all. He was good at auditions, good at JH and he's good now in the finals (if a bit boring). Marcus is a smidgen better than he was earlier one. Only ONE of Misha's performances was better than her initial audition - Proud Mary - where thankfully they'd persuaded the stylists NOT to put some item from the bakery on top of her head. Kitty's performances have (for me - all been good) but not that much improved from her auditions.

In short - I don't think any of them need the mentors at all - its just an excuse for the judges to get their fizzogs on telly! Gary more so than the others - he's just everywhere at the moment.

He's contradicted himself, he's lied, he's backed the wrong horse.

He boasts about being the head judge but he really isn't much good.

He won't be back for good.

I take it he doesnt re-light your fire then?