LAST YEAR was better than this year's borefest

Looking at the talent on paper, last year should have been miles better. But it was ruined by cheap production on performances, the worst manipulation ever, amateurish mistakes by hosts and producers, and dull judges.

This series has been dull in many places but at least it all feels a little nicer, and a tad less of an omnishambles.

Osborne scherzinger and Walsh should never have been brought back

Spot on. The bottom line is, it always has been and always will be a karaoke show. If any of the acts get a career at the end of it, it's a bonus.

Saara last week is a great example. Enough is Enough is a song that always does well on X Factor purely because it's a feel good song, and it's one of the reasons why I think Honey G is doing so well. Not because she's a novelty act but because of her song choices. It's the kind of thing you hear on a night out, and it's songs we've never heard on X Factor before.

People want 'feel good' TV and that is reflected by the success of a lighter tone towards the auditions, and it all turning a bit sour when they reverted to trying to make as much drama and controversy as possible. They need to move away from that, it isn't what people want to watch anymore. 2011 and 2013 followed a similar trajectory where they started off being quite light hearted but just ended terribly.

Saara being part of this year's show means it wins over 2015 by default

What went wrong?

Everything

Basically what the op said. It could have been a decent year but they chose novelty and headlines over talent and got rid of pretty much everyone half decent at judges houses and we got left with the chosen ones, 2 acts that shouldn't have got past security and a host of mediocre karaoke kids

I've never really seen you say anything positive about XF so am not sure your opinions can be taken seriously.

Well you really haven't looked very hard then. I've given plenty of praise over the years when it was deserved but there is very little to praise after the judges houses debarcle

They chose storylines over talent. They just can't help themselves.

I think any former acts are slapping themselves silly for not coming back to the show this year, where now they would have flown through each stage with ease.

Yup that and too much control by the producers, not enough honesty from the judges.

No he's not. Saara Alto is easily the best performer.

Judge Rinder and Ed Balls.

Two entertainers both giving it their all.
Soon as Strictly started up their Live shows this year's X-Factor was toast.

I have a theory that Honey G will be in, until Ed Balls goes from Strictly

The " older" judges panel where three of four are pensioners on a youth focused show.
Said three of four cent dign, no credibility.
Needs younger judges, Ellie Goulding, Sam Smith, Frankie Bridge, Ed Sheehan, people who have done it, sung it, and can engage.
More money spent on research, IE no contestants with GBH or Drugs.
No manipulative actions.
No fixing, like fright night.
No joke acts.

We have seen very poor judges decisions.
It's bloated for adverts, cut running time.
Back to basics. About the contestants not judges.

To be honest, needs a rest...

Agree.

It all went wrong the moment the judges panel was announced.

Everything else that's followed has only contributed to the downward spiral.

Couldn agree more and as for the constant standing ovations for Honey G and telling her she's upping her game and doing something different every week. Pathetic.

mark sidaway as exc producer

This is the first year I've stopped watching. Worst year ever. Auditions were hopeful, when the live shows started I couldn't believe they were actually going ahead with that line up, I thought there would be wildcards or a twist with the good singers coming back. My 13 yr old still watches but I think it's becoming a bit of a struggle for her - and she looks forward to the show all year so that's saying something!

I do think Honey G isn't helping either.

Fair enough to have her on there as a comedy act who keeps getting through to everyone's surprise, but the joke is ruined when the judges keep giving her praise and standing ovations and actually suggesting what she does has any quality but to make us laugh at the gumption of it.

Ten years ago an act like that wouldn'tve made it through the auditions. She would've been a laugh for a week and maybe brought back as a deluded wannabe at the final show.

Agree. A few years ago, the big bald bouncer would have been called in to escort her off of the premises yet now she's being treated like she's a credible artist,

Thd overs could have been a very good category this time round but the decisions made at judges houses killed the series before it really got started

Taking Saara out of the line-up would make it much worse than last year. Plus, we had a lot of potential contenders but was sabotaged to make way to Louisa's victory. If they didn't sabotage Anton, Chè, 4th Impact, Max and Mason, it could've been a close fight and an interesting final. But the talent alone was much better last year.

It's so weird how they tried to paint Louisa as some kind of pure little angel this time last year and less than a year later she's performing on stages in a leotard and thigh high stiletto heel boots. The manipulation of acts to be what they're not has reached a new high in the last few years.

Look at Honey G revealing her true colours as a nasty and ungrateful creep this week after the judges telling us every week how kind and nice she is. Very telling that we never see her doing anything like that or helping any of the other acts or even chatting with them!

Had such high hopes for this series. It all went downhill for me when Sharon had really good singers in her category but two that went through she didn't even put on a chair at six chair challenge. They weren't ever on a chair and taken off just an immediate no. And then they get into the lives.

The same with the Chicken Idiots. Much better groups and they end up on the show. It all started to go downhill there. When it then came to the lives it turned into even bigger joke especially when Sharon didn't even know who her contestant was or where she came from. Ryan being saved week on week when he should have been kicked out weeks ago etc


And don't get me started on the jukebox fix that oh yeah isn't. Pull the other one