Cowell didn't want them, then wanted them gone as soon as possible.

He chooses acts that the public wouldn't take to and got his wish.

The pesky voters were beginning to annoy him with picking dull overs as the winner , he may want to keep it that way and replace it with something else

Do away with the categories all together. Pick the best 12 acts from the auditions, put the names in a hat and have the judges draw them out one at a time.

I agree with this.

Pretty good idea Simon completely obliterated the overs chances cuz he wanted the girls so badly I think this way it will make it a more even playing field.

I'm sure it's been stated before that due to copyright the show has to keep the format of each judge having its own category therefore I think the only way they could get rid of a specific overs category is to regig the categories.

I think they could have Males, Females, Groups and bands(with instruments) or Males, Females, Groups and Duos. With The Voice now being on ITV I think they will both have a lot of the same solo singers applying so The X Factor could make its self stand out more with the categories suggested (I know the Voice has duo's but ITV could stop that if they wanted)

I hope not, The Overs are my favourite category (this year excluded). They always produce the most interesting acts. Fleur, Ben, Brenda, Wagner, Chico, Kitty, Sam Bailey, Niki Evans, Rowetta etc. They're always quite bonkers too because they want it so bad.

The Boys are always bland and The Girls are pretty much always underserved. The Groups are always so-so.

This makes the most sense. The categories are rubbish and the acts get pitted against each other in the public vote sooner or later anyway.

I suppose originally there was novelty in the categories, and also they feared that one KIND of act might dominate. For example, why choose older people at ALL unless forced to? Or groups back before 1D succeeding proved how well that worked for Syco (and now the groups might be the favorite because of a hope to replicate that).

So still audition them in categories. Even put them to the live shows still in categories. But THEN have a so-called "schoolyard pick" where the judges go one at a time from the whole pool and start picking.

I'm surprised they have never selected a contestant older than 54- even for the novelty factor. I think Wagner, Mary Byrne and Verity Keays are the only contestants they have had over 50.

Technically Fleur shouldn't have been in the overs she's to young really! I think they should do over 30's this catergory is good because these people have Experiance and there are some gems they find

I know Boopsie was only in her late 30s, and had a younger body, but honestly, her face could have passed for older than 54.