Could Tabby be the chosen one from both of the anti-Simon duo?

We know Louis knew Tabby prior to X factor. We also know that Sharon was originally going to put Andy through then overnight she changed her mind and was very upset when she had to tell Andy he was going home. Could Louis and Sharon have had a conversation that ended up with her selecting Tabby?

G4 were originally Louis's strongest contenders until he started choosing odd songs for them. Is he sabotaging them deliberately?

Has Louis promised to back up Sharon if she promotes Tabby?

It's been suggested on a couple of other threads. Could be, but do they (Sharon and Louis) both have so much more faith in Tabby than in their other 5 acts? I would accept that maybe Louis (and Simon?) convinced Sharon about choosing Tabby over the other guy initially, but I don't know about this all the way thing. It's a risky strategy when it depends somewhat on the public reaction. I don't doubt that they both don't like him though, and wouldn't be surprised if they continue to help him after the show, for better or worse.

It's a plausable theory, I don't think Louis has been happy with the bands from day one. However, I think Sharon is happy with both Tabby and Cassie, she also loves Rowetta and even said she thinks one of Simon's two reamining acts will win.

I can't see Sharon taking advice from Louis on who to choose at any point. I'm not sure she even likes him that much.

Good theory. I have always been uncomfortable with the fac t that Louis seemed to know Tabby really well from the past but did not acknowledge him from the first auditions.

As I said previously, a plausable theory. I await further installments if Tabby makes the final.

Another thing that has always bugged me is the whole decision process that Sharon seemed to go through between Tabby and Andy. It is obvious that Tabby was always Sharons Star pupil and would be the first name on the list so why all the pretence?

It was all crocodile tears when she told Andy that he hadn't been picked for the final 3.

I think your theory is very plausible indeed.

Also, I'm pretty positive that Louis the leprechaun is trying to ruin G4. Making them sing 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' is surely taking the p*?

People keep saying this, but surely that'd be overkill. If Louis wants to ruin G4, he doesn't need to lift a finger after last week. They'd be lucky to recover from that fiasco whatever they sang this week. To choose 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' is so ridiculous that it almost seems like a desperate plea for attention.

The fact that Ben let slip to the vocal coach that G4 had been worried about their song choice also shows that Louis is not in agreement to what G4 actually want to sing. 2 To Go seem to have insisted on not singing a ballad this week but at least they are getting songs more suitable for them.

Yes I agree Ruby, the choice is so awful that the theory must be...."this is so stupid it might just work"

Do you think they got Darius in to advise on the arrangement?

I must be gullible, but I really thought Shazza shed genuine tears for Andy. Wouldn't that fit with the Tabby and Louis theory? It would mean that Shazza may well have felt awful for having to say 'no' to Andy, NOT necessarily because Andy was better, but just because of the Louis factor?

You could be right zip.It was interesting that they showed most of this on ITV2 rather than the main show. Something just didnt feel right about the whole thing.

The betting suggests that Tabby has an excellent chance of winning:-

Tabby 13/8
Steve Brookstein 10/3
Cassie Compton 7/2
Rowetta 9/2
G4 6/1
Voices With Soul 20/1
2 To Go 33/1
Any Other 100/1

Yeah Zips
I reckon that Sharon's were really GUILTY tears,as you know I love a good conspiracy,and this one has definitely got some teeth too.
Gotta feel a bit sorry for poor Andy though,stuck in the middle of panel politics.....tough break kiddo(sound like PW ),ol' PIV must be getting soft,showing his sensitive side.

I also think Andy would have been too much of a threat to Tabby with the younger voters. Andy seemed to have a lot of fans there and might have split the vote.

Yeah, I agree with this. Tabby (or Andy, if he'd been picked) will get the 'vote' for the 'young male type'. If Megan and Cassie had been picked - it may have been similar.

D'you think Shazza picked Roberta for that reason? That is, that Roberta would be out quicker than the other two, whereas Cassie and Megan would have weakened each others' votes as would have been the case with Andy and Tabby?

Definitely. There is a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes that we dont know about. The involvement of Louis Walsh should not be underestimated either.He has seen Tabby perform in clubs and pubs before with his band too and according to the person who originally posted about the Westlife connection from school before it was revealed in the media, it was Louis who encouraged Tabby and his band to apply to X-Factor.

It's probably the case as you say. For me, though, I still love Tabby...I can't stand Louis though.

I think a lot of careful picking went on by all of them. Simon picked Verity alongside Rowetta? They all picked their 'first act to go' and Louis' will be tonight.

Yep...I don't think it will be G4 though...one of the other two, I think

Underneath, the show is all about Sharon and Louis wanting to get one over on Simon Cowell. I don't think Louis cares so much if his acts don't win, as long as Simon's don't!

The 'overnight change of mind' did seem very odd - all played out on television - but, Andy's vocals were never really that good. Yes, he had the looks and an 'x-factor' without a doubt, but never really performed very well at any audition that we saw.

tabby forgot the words to one song and andy made them cry.all of my mates thought andy was deffo through was shocked when tabby was picked,fix fix fix

I really don't think it's this sensational. I think Sharon picked the three acts she wanted in the competition, as did Louis and Simon. Louis IS very biased towards Irish people but I doubt he'd try to sabotage his own acts to try and get somebody else to win. Anyway, I still think the Britney song could work.

Where was it said that Louis encouraged Tabby and his band to audition? I never heard that. Louis Walsh knows a lot of musicians in Ireland. Most Irish people trying to get into the pop industry have probably met Louis. The fact that Tabby went to school with some of the members of Louis' biggest band will definitely help him, but I'm not sure that it's this deep . . .