Do you actually enjoy x-factor as a relevant music experience? Or do you watch it for a piss take? Do you view the panel as people who dictate the music world, or a bunch o monkey grinders with about as much power as a digital watch battery. How many adverts are worth watching compared to the performers?.People crying and generic sob stories v arrogance and being professional? red wine or lambert and butler?

I think most people recognise it as the contrived, tyranically-controlled pantomime it's always been, but watch it because it's always been quite fun and funny and comfortably dramatic. At it's peak it was really entertaining in a low-brow, pretty daft way.

This series is just plain shite, though. The "judges" (does anyone even listen to their critique anymore?), the contestants, the script, the "decisions". At this point, it's just dreck and I think most watch out of a sense of habit than any strong feelings. It feels like a chore, and I'm watching the show solely to be able to take part in the forum, as opposed to the reverse. It's rubbish and deserves to flop.

You have summed up my feelings exactly. I think without Sky+ I wouldn't even bother. Reckon I have it down to about 10 minutes viewing now.