Have to admit, I never thought this year would be worse than both 2007 and 2012 after a promising start.

It all went Pete Tong as soon as Dumb & Dumber got their 20 minute audition and the whole series collapsed to a streaming pile of Bratavia from that weekend onwards.

No surprises that the best singers were sent home at Judges Houses. Anyone who thinks Matt Terry is an amazing singer doesn't know what an "amazing singer" sounds like.

Matt Terry isn't even the best in this lineup imo.

Even though I don't think this is the worst season in terms of contestants or judges, it just seems to be the year where everyone involved in the show has simply given up.

Even in it's really bad years, this show has always been slickly produced, but everything about it this year feels really cheap and rushed. It almost feels like I'm watching dress rehearsals rather than the main show.

I don't know how the producers got to become producers of this show but they have done an abysmal job and should be sacked. I presume they got only got the gig due to brown nosing and networking which is rife in showbiz.

Yep. The fial 12 are dire but at least it's being held together by Dermot being a pro. Imagie these sh*te acts plus Olly being unable to read an autocue.


You're not alone. I don't get it at all. If heard better singing at karaoke at 11pm on a Friday and seen better dancing at a wedding with a free bar.
He's a Butlins redcoat who got lucky

Bit harsh, though they do seem to do a better job some years than others. 2014 was brilliantly produced IMO, but then 2011/12 were a bit of a shambles. I think Mark Sidaway, for better or worse, knows how to produce X Factor- this series has felt like quintessential X Factor which many love and many hate, just with a few more stupid gimmicks than usual (Jukebox I'm looking at you).

No offence intended but it did feel like last year was being run by amateurs. I somehow don't think it was 100% Olly & Caroline's fault that they kept missing cues and misreading/interpreting things- what were people feeding them in their ear, if anything? Not to mention the embarrassing grammatical mistake on one of the live show intros (small I know).
That was the year they replaced Mark with the BGT producer- odd because production mistakes on that show are as rare as hen's teeth.

Yes last years was marginally worse. After Sean miley Moore and Monica were voted off, there was literally no reason to watch except unintended comedy.

This year I enjoy saara and to a degree Emily and Matt (when they are at their best).

No disrespect to Olly, but I think Simon probably likes him because he's not as bothered about the music and 'artistic integrity' as some others might be. Over the years Simon has had a bit of a nightmare with all the men he has bothered to put any effort into managing. Brookstein, James Arthur and Zayn, to name some of the more obvious ones. Olly just enjoys being famous and touring and making cash. He's literally Simon's cash cow. I know SYCO has success and Olly, Little Mix and even James Arthur charts well these days but they aren't exactly high concept albums are they? just fodder chart music and there's a place for that of course but for me that's where the X Factor doesn't really work. It's not really about the music, mostly it's a springboard for forming a media career and making a truckload of cash for Simon.

This series has been pretty bad, its predictable, Matt Terry will win, Honey G was always going to be in for this long.

The themed nights are boring, the song choices are old, the judging has gone stale, their isn't anything great to say about this year.

I don't really know how long the X Factor has left, part of me enjoys watching rubbish tv on a Saturday night, however once i get into it their 'isn't anything great and i tend to turn it off.

Maybe rest it for a year? not sure, something needs to happen for certain!

The show could use some freshness without sacrificing their usual manipulating shenanigans.

The production team are clearly part of the problem. There is nothing wrong with taking pride in your work, but you shouldn’t get personally involved and start believing your own hype. Mark Sidaway is a good example. He needs to spend less time on social media arguing with people and retweeting anti-Strictly comments and instead concentrate on improving the show.

it gets worse every year , didn't think it could sink so low ,
good job they brought in the Fin SAARA

I think you're right. Olly is someone who probably loves the fame and fortune more than the music side of things. He will be at Simon's beck and call and is eternally grateful to him for his chance.

He's not really dissimilar to Rylan. They both seem to be nice enough lads with a decent work ethic but neither is exactly highbrow

Each and every year it gets worse, you do not think that is possible, but it does go to new depths.

2010 16/17 million viewers, now just 6 million, so TEN MILLION have switched off.

This is the worst year ever!! The problem is they manipulate the show so much.. The good singers didn't go through from the auditions. Matt Terry will win!! Nicole is so annoying.. Allabout me.. She will probably sing in the final and steal the limelight. Just so predictable. I think they needed new judges, but keep Simon as head judge. The problem with Xfactor it's not about the contestants. It's an entertainment show, so they are looking for drama, and expect the judges to fall out soon...

Agree, great post.

I don't think it's manipulated. I don't think they know how to spot a star because I honestly don't believe Matt or any of the contestants will do well. If it weren't for Honey G and 5AM (last week only), it would be really boring.

The only act with the potential to do well in the Pop charts given the right material is 5AM.

All of the other acts are either not good enough, or fit into other avenues in Music which there's nothing wrong with the latter.

I think so too. Don't get me wrong, Matt Terry and all of the contestants seem like nice people so obviously I wish them all the best in the long run. I just don't see how they're going to turn it around. Matt Terry's too much of a nice pretty lad and that's not popular these days. If they try and turn it around and make him 'dirty' I don't think it would be believable - like Louisa from last year.

Reading this page, some of the comments on here are so negative, jealous and bitter that I feel sorry for the contestants in some ways. At the end of the day, these contestants are just people who want to be stars and who cares really? It doesn't impact our lives in any meaningful way. Just sit back, enjoy, chill out and stop moaning.

Or a decade or two?

They seem to be resting a lot on Dermot's shoulders but there's only so much he can do when all the contestants are terrible. Also he seems like he doesn't really give a toss anymore (why would he) they're lucky he will keep doing his best despite that because he's a professional.

I think they were. We also used to have a diverse range of singers, ages and backgrounds. Now it's all people who look like kids or Honey G- the obvious novelty act to generate some interest in the show.

If it weren't for Louis playing dirty tactics to get JLS to the final with no competition, I would agree with you. That alone ruined Series 5 for me.

I think the standard has been very poor this year tbh.

I wish them all the best after the show, it's just I think alot of people (myself included) get annoyed when people that we perceive to be weaker beating our favourites, or getting more praise from the judges that we feel isn't deserved.

However I agree with you that it's not the end of the world (Trump being President of the United States will be lol) but I think it's good to be competitive with your favourites when watching these shows as it's apart of the fun, and as long as it doesn't get too personal then it's fine and in good spirit.