Well done Ben! Excellent question on xtra factor! For the ones who missed it, he asked Simon "Coward" whether he wanted G4 to go because they are competition for his already signed act Il Divo.

We all know that THIS is the case of course.

But he replied a whole lot of nonsence which persuaded NO one! (thus making him a Coward). I had great respect for Simon up until last night. I even said on another thread that if it came to VWS and G4 being on the last 2, yes Sharon might get rid of G4 (according to her comments on a CD:UK) but I was convinced that Simon would be fair and keep them despite Il Divo. How wrong was I. Simon is ruthless and despite his fair comments generally, last night he made a fool of himself. "I've always had a soft spot for those girls" my @ss! Simon COWARD is threatened by G4 and now that Louis only has them to look after, they will make the final if not win! Simon would rather have VWS in the competition because he saw them getting in the last 2 a number of times and he knew that they are not a threat to his acts in the competition or outside. But G4.... hhehehehe...he KNOWS that G4 could beat Rowetta and Steve, that's why he voted to get rid of them. It's all tactics. I would have kept my respect for him if he admited what Ben asked him (about worrying that G4 are competition for his acts , ie Il Divo) but noooooo...he chose to feed us a whole load of b*ll*cks. As if we are stupid.
Anyway, later Louis said that G4 are his favourite act, so we can easily predict that he'll produce albums etc for them (I just hope that he'll put more energy into them in the competition as well now and choose the right songs), so Simon and Il Divo (and the others) be afraid... be VERY afraid! :->

Sorry, I don't agree for a minute. G4 are nowhere near Il Divo IMO. As Simon said, there's plenty of room for similar artists.

Also, remember, Simon was very happy to put G4 through in the first round. If I was Simon and really worried about competition, I'd have not had them go through.

Simon is not worried by G4.

Between this thread, The Tabby Dont Panic one and the Cassie one about poll votes-Its wonderful being a fan.

Do you REALLY believe that he prefers VWS over G4?
C'mon....

....I agree with you. My opinion of that man is at an all time low. I don`t think he got the bottom 2 scenario he was expecting last night........he thought it would be VWS and Cassie (he said on a Yorkshire TV on Friday night that he thought it was Cassie`s time to go, intimating he would vote her off). Now that gives me a SLIGHT glimmer of hope for Saturday should she end up in the bottom 2 with G4. But nothing would surprise me about that man.

Maybe he did it so Louis has to chose between bboth of his opwn acts again !

Shoot me, but I wondered that Simon gave Louis the choice of who he wanted to keep? If I was Louis, I would have preferred that.

Do you really believe Shaz preferred G4 to VWS? I don't.

......exactly, and did anyone else notice his nervous body language (stroking the side of his neck just before he was asked for his vote). All nicely pre-rehearsed with Sharon that they would give a vote to each, thus making poor Louis give us the impression it was a MASSIVE decision he was making (not).

This is not going to be popular with G4 fans, but I honestly think for Simon G4 have served their purpose. They must have been like manna from heaven when they turned up at the auditions (I'm wondering if Simon encouraged Jon to apply for X factor at the Il Divo auditions). Simon knew when Il Divo were releasing their first album (or he engineered it) that X factor would be at the height of it's popularity, so to get the public used to the idea of four classical singers singing popular tunes, he would have G4 on as the taster to this new (to most consumers) genre. The act started being given silly songs the weekend before the Il Divo album was released - this is when their popularity started to wane. I found it odd that they were put through at the auditions, not because of their talent but because they didn't fit the type of programme being made.

G4 have served their purpose, I fully expect them to go next Saturday, not because they are bad, but because they have done what Simon wanted them for.

Ooooh *rubs hands together* I love this point in a reality show, when they conspiracy theories start running riot

hmhmmmhmhhmhmm I don't think that Simon has such a big and sympathetic heart to be honest with you. Louis and Sharon SHOW their competitiveness by silly remarks. Simon is MORE competitive and bitter but he hides it. I bet that he LOVED having to make Louis choose again.

Mind you, I agree with you about that Shaz vote... I wouldn't be surprised if Louis had asked her to vote for VWS over G4

Unfortunately for G4 and me, who likes them, I agree... It does make sense what you've said...

.......or alternatively you could say that having seen how popular Il Divo`s album has become, it proves to Simon just how big the demand for this genre of music is. Il Divo are shortly to go on an extended tour of America and Europe and will disapppear from this country for a while. Step in G4 to "bridge" that gap. They have an established fan base, have had 5 weeks of prime-time TV exposure, They have, as Sharon said last night, progressed so much in the competition - you only have to look at the transformation in their styling - they look slick and polished. Now do you really think Simon will just wave bye bye and let some other record company snap them up - not likely. Watch this space

It would be much more in Simon's favour for them to win, the publicity it would generate would save him thousands and thousands in promotion. I like G4, but I really don't think Simon will offer them any sort of contract.

Of course he did.It made good television and that is what the show is all about.

I think Simon's decision to vote off G4 was a good one. He has said all along he thinks VWS were great, and G4's performances were pretty awful these past 2 weeks.

I really can't fathom what the supposed appeal of G4 is.

Cute as he is, Jonathon has come across a a whiny cry-baby in recent weeks - and the rest of them just appear to be self-deluded big-heads. They 'interpret' songs the same way week-after-week and I would be bored silly listening to more than 2-3 songs in a row by them.

I can't see ANYTHING about them that makes them more worthy of winning this competition than Steve, Rowetta, Cassie or (the totally over-hyped) Tabby. A definite case of style over substance if you ask me!

I think they have great voices but ive gone off them due to their terrible performances these past 2 weeks.

They have been my worst act 2 weeks running (even worst than Tabby) so if they dont improve fast I think they might be living on borrowed time.

I predict Cassie V G4 in the bottom 2 next week which means Simon will have the casting vote and G4 will go.

I think if Sharon had chosen G4 to go Simon would've chosen VWS. Pure and simple. 'Money Money Money'...'Ratings Ratings Ratings'...oooh the drama.

I agree my fellow cynic.

I'm actually not sure, he does seem to have a preference for the more Voluptuous lady

I'd say it was more of a preference for publicity/ratings/money.

But he championed Michelle McManus when there were far more easily sellable comodities in the show. Without him she and probibily VWS in this show wouldn't have got through the auditions.

That's very cynical, and very true.



whip, Michelle McMannus served her purpose and made him money. Long term artists Simon can find himself. The XFactor is a vehicle to make money for Simon, the winner could do zilch and he will still be in profit.

Do you think that the easily sellable artists would have made good television though? I very much doubt they would.

This isn't a real talent search I've just realised.Yes, I know it took me a while but the penny has finally dropped for me.Its all about making a Saturday night television programme which appeals to the masses,making lots of money,self-promotion for the judges and the contestants are just playing their part in the circus.I'd go so far as to say that the contestants are there purely as a means to an end........the ultimate aim is good television and making money for the company.Yes money.....and lots of it!!!!