But then neither of those went on to win in the end. So, regardless of the leak the final result could be different. No doubt it's being leaked to awaken the Fleur vote.

NO they didn't but the votes leaked were for the early weeks in almost everyone on here called it as BS and it turned out to be 100% accurate which is my point

Correct though they may be worried about Fleur finishing third if the leak is true. After all the ramping they have done of Fleur it must be frustrating for them that she is not far ahead in the voting IMO.

Steve Brookstein thinks this supposed voting leak has come from X Factor themselves and is just a tactic to mobilise Fleur's fans into voting even more.

Perhaps to try to dampen down some of the 'Simon's fixed it for Fleur to win' uproar.

If it was anywhere other than the Star I wouldn't believe it for a second, but they've got an excellent track record for these leaks. Still really hard to believe that margin, especially when Ben had his worst week by miles and Fleur one of her strongest. But I guess by that stage many people are voting for their favourites regardless of the actual performance.

Actually, statistically it's more likely to be fleur. When FLEUR has her best performance and only manages 6% ahead of andrea, then when Andrea has a rebound vote, the pimp slot, great performances then he probably leap frogged Fleur - like what happens 99% of the time when someone's bottom 2. Hannah Barret, Misha B and so on.

I think that is the more likely scenario. Maybe, if Ben is that far ahead, they already think he's got it in the bag but are really pushing for Fleur to come second?
It's obvious to me that they seem to want a Ben/Fleur final and this may be being done to ensure that

Lots of spin then.

I agree with him. Producers are still on the Fleur bandwagon and are trying to mobilize her support against the people who have got it wrong. The late leak is a last desperate throw of the dice.

The two situations can't be compared. It doesn't really matter whether the people they claimed were storming the early weeks went on to win. What matters is them saying that Ben got over 50% of the vote in the semi-final. Could someone beat him? Sure. Is it likely? Probably not.

I agree especially if there really was only a few percent between her and Andrea after THAT performance. Are the duets actually happening? Surely they'll be ensuring Andrea gets a duff one in comparison to Fleurs, basically i imagine they'll be pulling out at all the stops to deramp Andrea to ensure on his big return, its a Cowell category Top 2. (First since Ray and Leona?)

Now that is going to get all Fleur and Andrea fans all fired up.

Andrea has got Sam Smith I believe and Fleur Meghan Trainor, but it's not confirmed.

He didn't have a poor performance. He had a great performance. You are just saying that because you can't see past Fleur. I can see past Ben and say Fleur had a great performance..

I agree. I think they have been the 2 stand out performers over the series and deserve to be the final 2.

The all-knowing Brookstein speaks again...

He's seriously deranged.

Definitely and in regards to Itunes - Ben has been the most consistent seller on Itunes with Fleur being the least until last weekend of course.

Steve will say anything to keep his name in the papers

Syco has very little influence over The Star. In fact The Star's leaks from 2011 onwards have been spot on, they have been vocal about how the show is fixed, and they have done interviews with ex-X Factor contestants who have been shunned by the media machine since falling out with Cowell.

It's The Sun & The Mirror who have always towed the line with Syco, promoting his favoured acts and releasing false information to help manipulate the public perceptions.
They are the newspapers which ran the "Vote James Arthur campaign that saw him jump from B2 to having a commanding leak."

The only reason for the leak (if true) is to garner more support for the other two..

So in that respect Its a good thing for Fleur and Andrea fans. It also highlights that both either Fleur or Andrea could make it to Sun.

If it's wrong then us Ben fans might be thinking he is safe and we are in for a shock exit.

Can you reference the newspaper article please?

I can't argue with an opinion given by Steve on this one because he has more experience. Been there and wore the T Shirt. Surely he knows what they are like?

Are you Steve's Doctor?

Probably the Metro.

This could be true. They have got it right quite a few times.

The odds never determine anything anymore, just in the summer in Big Brother they had someone survive an eviction on 1/12 odds, whilst the person with around 8/1 ended up going.

It's all a bit silly if it's Ben propaganda as people will look at it and just not vote for him as he is certain to win.

So it might all backfire on them.