As x-factor stitch-ups go, it's never been more obvious than the cruel treatment of Paul Akister the past couple weeks and especially tonight. The boy obviously doesn't want to bow to the silly x-factor game and he's feeling Simon's full wrath.

* Negatively labelled and edited as a 'misery' because he committed the crime of complaining about cheesy song choices. History is littered with x-factor contestants sent packing off the back of poor song choices, and he had every right to object. Crime: having a few brain cells. Simon detests this.
* Called out for attitude after an exceptional performance last week by Simon - bang out of order.
* Simon audibly saying "shit" when Paul was saved last week. This poor boy is toast the moment he's in bottom two.
* Given the DEATH SLOT this week - the SECOND time he's been given the death slot and Andrea (in same episode) has received the PIMP SLOT. - encouraging the voters to polarise between the two chubby male singers - but especially in Andrea's favour.
* Despite an outstanding vocal, given one of the most off-putting backing tracks this week in recent x factor memory.
* Faint praise from the judges this week, but nothing too negative, nothing to instigate an "ahh, leave him alone" sympathy vote, but nothing to overtly emcourage people to vote.

Don't fall for the X-factor horse shit. Paul is clearly a clued up and super-talented guy. His only real crime is being intelligent and self aware, slightly less marketable or popular a winner as say Andrea would be. And perhaps not being able to shift as many x factor tour tickets as say stereo kicks could.

Rooting for this kid.

Couldn't agree more, I actually think and really hope he's going to do well away from X factor he's got such a soul voice, simon knows he can't market him like his little "pop stars". And see how desperate simon is to get him out before big band week next week. I think its safe to say I don't think il be bothering with watching X factor next year now

Calling him a Dementor was pretty horrible. Anyone who knows anything about the Harry Potter books will know how awful/ evil these things are meant to be and JK Rowling said this herself. I thought it was a really low blow to say Paul basically sucked any happiness out of the air. Simon Cowell just isn't funny....how nasty can you get.

I love Paul. I am not sure exactly what is going on though. that dubstep version of DSMN was not great but it is a good song so not 100% convinced it was a banana skin. the judges' feedback was quite good too. but they don't know what they would do with him after the show for sure. shame because it wouldn't be hard to make him commercialI am sure. he could make them some money. Sam Smith and John Newman obvious if not exact parallels.

It's why I hate X Factor now.

Cowell always pushing his agenda on the voting audience instead of judging on the singing talent.

Do I seriously have to watch Stevi for another week. He was great doing Phantom of the Opera but now he goes back to doing pathetic performances.

Totally agree 100% with you

I voted for Paul, first time I've voted since the MacDonald Brothers. They're treating him like shit and not even trying to hide it so he'll get my votes every week from now.

Goodness did he call him that why

The whole criticism of Paul for not liking his song choice last week was major hypocrisy on Simon's part. How often do we hear him bleating on about wanting acts 'who know what kind of artist they want to be'? And yet here we have a singer who expresses some discomfort with a song choice because it has *nothing* to do with what kind of artist he wants to be, and he gets shat on for exactly the thing Simon's likes to pretend he covets.

I'm on the verge of giving up on this programme, I must admit. The manipulation is just perpetual now. I'm half-hoping that the emerging hatchet job is because he's polling *way* higher than they'd like, and they just want to undermine him so he can't win down the line rather than knock him out immediately. It's a tall hope though and sadly I suspect he may well be leaving tomorrow night.

there is no conspiracy i'm sure Paul will be fine, can everyone can stop throwing bit*h fits now (ROLLEYES/SARCASTIC)

I think he could win it, the way that Will Young won Pop Idol when he stood up to Dark Lord Cowell. I hope he does.

One can dream but sadly think this is a pipe one

It does seem very anti Paul

But cowell has his agenda

It's not normally so obvious in favour of his acts

Maybe the plan is for him to win the final act

I agree, I GAVE HIM all my votes before the show began, well 3 and 2 to Andrea. I can smell an anti Paul Agenda!

What really really bugged me was when Simon went on his rant about Paul last week about moaning about song choices, he gives Lauren a standing ovation and praise, yet on her VT she was moaning all week about having to do a few moves to her song, to the point of a near breakdown. It's the hypocrisy of it all that makes me mad.

Just another dig at his character. Paul's only "crime" seems to be that he is a quiet and reserved sort of lad. On Xtra Factor some of the other contestants said that he is also quite poker faced so he keeps his cards close to his chest I think and doesn't show his emotions - and who could blame him. Simon basically turned this quietness in him on it's head and said that he was coming across as miserable. He said he was like a Dementor sucking away everyone's happiness. Paul gets my vote - it isn't a crime to be quiet.

Paul Akister and Jay James are the early favourites to go in Sunday night’s X Factor 2014 results.



Saturday night saw the remaining nine acts performing huge hits by Michael Jackson and Queen.

But illness hampered the performances with acts suffering everything from tonsillitis to soar throats.

And then Stereo Kicks had to deal with a stage invasion during their performance.

After all was said and done, the likes of Andrea Faustini and Lauren Platt had once again stood out but there could be bad news on the horizon for Mel.

Paul is the favourite to go, possibly meaning she’ll lose her third boy in as many weeks.

Jay is the 3/1 second favourite to go, spoiling Simon Cowell’s currently spotless record this year with all four acts still remaining and none having been in the bottom two.



Others in the danger zone include Stereo Kicks, at 7/1, and both Only the Young and Stevi Ritchie, also at 7/1.

Aoife Heffron, PR Executive at Boylesports, commented: “Paul has further shortened as the favourite to go after a flood of cash came in throughout the live show. At 8/11 it’s hard to see anyone else leave on Sunday”

Week 5 on The X Factor is however somewhat mythically known for shock exits and Ben Haenow and Fleur East fit that bill at odds of 66/1 to go each.


Read more: http://tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/the...#ixzz3IWg9sKhg
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It's clear that Simon doesn't see Paul as a future star/recording artist and therefore is trying to ensure he doesn't win. The opposite is happening with Lauren with over the top praise etc even though in my opinion Paul is better.
Funny how he criticised Louis for not putting him through to the lives last year and then when he is there does everything he can to manipulate the viewers to try and get rid of him.

It's ridiculous how obvious they were in trying to bus Paul tonight! First on, a song choice that didn't suit him, a ridiculous arrangement and a very negative VT... I really hope he isn't bottom 2, I love when the producers don't get their way.


I love Lauren but I do agree! There are always so many double standards on the show once they have their favourites. I don't see what was so wrong with Paul challenging his song choice. Didn't Ben do that when he sang Don't Wanna Miss A Thing? Why is if ok for him?! Oh wait, he's simon's act and is one of the chosen few.

Totally agree. Cowell really has it in for him.

So am I

Vote for Paul then

It's obvious Simon wanted rid of him last week so probably had a quiet word to give him the death slot, a crappy backing track, and then to call him a Dementor in his comments! xD

If I'm honest, I would rather see Paul go than all the other acts (Stevi included...). He may be a good singer but he's a bit bland.

Though, yeah, a total setup to have him on first, and Jay on second as well. They're both favourites for the sing off, and it wouldn't be the first time this series the first two acts to perform were in bottom 2.

I rolled my eyes when Simon brought up the criticism from last week. Even when he was praising Paul he managed to make most of it into a dig. He didn't just say "Oh I thought the performance had more life in it than last weeks" or something like that, he actually compared him to a dementor and said he sucked the life out of the room. It was out of order to actually say that to the lad, but why did Simon have to dwell so much on re-iterating his previous negativity when Paul's performance was not even the slightest bit moody? He didn't get his desired result last week obviously.

Ben, Andrea and Fleur are my favourites but Paul got all of my votes this week.


Simon actually criticized Ben for that song choice. He said it was the wrong song and I think he said it was a just a copy of Aerosmith. He doesn't like not being in control.

Excellent post! Bravo!

I think it's also pretty odd that my app confirmed votes for other contestants and yet rejected my vote for paul (but still deducted it from my votes)

My thread and screenshots

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2023636