Something Simon has said recently has come to my attention. Every week Simon is unimpressed wth Nicholas's song choices. They are either too old or predictable. Seeing as he believes that Nick has got potential and he rates him, why hasn't he helped or advised Nicholas on what song he should sing? Afterall, it was he and Sharon who helped advise Shayne to sing 'cry me a river'.

Every week Nicholas sings a stiff old mans song (with the exception of last week). This week was no exception.

While Shayne's song and performance was young and hip that came equiped with dancers and nice lighting, Nicholas was given a dull but nice song with a backing choir drowning him out.

Now i do like Shayne, but i do think, after watching his performance, the show is biased in his favour (im nt sure if thats the right choice of words). Its like the judges are setting him up to win this whole competition. He looked like a star. I dont remember any other act recieving dancers.

He is obviously going to be aiming for the pop market and it showed. Who exactly is Nicholas sopposed to be marketed at with the songs he sings? He's 18 for goodness sake, why can't louis give him an upbeat song to sing?

According to editors, etc of teen and pre-teen mags, Nicholas is far more popular with their readers so if the intention is to market an act to that age group (who let's face it, even if they get bored easily, they are prepared to fork out the most money in the short-term) they are barking up the wrong tree. Shayne's main support seems to be coming from women in Sharon's age group who'd be more interested in buying an album or wouldn't bother to buy at all.

I have to say I was a bit put out at Sharon and Simon helping Louis to choose a song for Shayne. I think it's fairly obvious that the show is being geared for him to win.

I dont know..I reckon it will still be the teens (14-24)buyng his music rather than woman of sharon's age. I can hardly see middle-aged women racing out to purchase Shayne's record. I think JS will appeal more to them than shayne would.

Childish of me I know, but when saw the title of this thread my first thought was "handbags at twenty paces...!!"

It would seem from talking to a friend who works in the media, that Nicholas is very popular with the hip and happening tweenie market.

Shayne on the otherhand is more popular with the 18 onwards females.

Both demographics are likely to buy albums.

Nicholas needs to be marketed as a Lemar type artist - Shayne on the other hand needs to be marketed more towards the Robbie end of the pop spectrum. Done well both could be equally succesful.

This is exactly what I'm saying. Most of his support seems to be coming from a section of the population that don't mind spending a few pence on a phone call from the comfort of their armchair but are not likely to go out and spend a few pounds on CDs.

JS would seem the obvious choice for them but I'm amazed at their support for Shayne. Having said that, he's not the first young and fairly good looking male contestant in a talent show to appeal more to the middle-aged and approaching middle-age than to his own age group or younger.

BTW, "teens" are 13-19.

As long as it was handbags and handbags only.

I mean it would be like putting Frank Spencer up against Frank Bruno.

Chico - Livin' la Vida Loca?

I find that hard to believe. Shayne has been featured on the front cover of every single issue of my daughter's magazine for weeks now. While Nicholas and the other X Factor boys have also been featured in the magazine, Shayne seems to be the main focus of attention.

Oddly enough, I'm a middle-aged woman and I prefer Nicolas!

Maybe it's a case of the X-Factor publicity machine trying to force feed Shayne to the readers of these magazines as the designated winner but maybe what the magazine people are saying is that they are actually receiving more e-mails, letters, texts, etc about Nicholas.

What's the expression? "You can take a horse to water but you cannot make it drink". I don't believe that's anything to do with Sharon

Not the case. Shayne has been top of Sneak magazine text votes for a number of weeks. Nicholas hasnt even been in their top ten. I know purely as I look at these magazines in the Newsagents purely for research purposes.

That's funny because "Sneak" was the one magazine where I did hear the editor mentioning Nicholas as being the most popular among their readers. I can't speak for other magazines or where other people got their info from.

Yep, on Friday night's Xtra Factor, they had editors from Heat, Sneak and Closer magazines on.

Heat said that their readers are primarily 25 year olds, and Shayne was their most popular, with Journey South following closely behind.

Sneak had Nicholas as their most popular, with their demographic being 13-16 year olds.

Closer had Maria as their favourite, and their readers are mainly 30+. The editor also said they get a lot of support for Andy and Brenda, too.

Probably just didnt want to go the same way as Heat.

Or probably it's the same machinery putting Shayne on the front page that's making sure he's on top in the text votes.

When I referred to my daughter's magazine, it was Sneak I ws talking about. Certainly, Shayne is the clear favourite among her and her friends.

I think nicholas comes across like a nicer person, he just seems so genuine.
But Shayne has the better voice.
Every week i really want to vote for Nicholas as hes such a sweet guy and seems very humble but his performances always dissapoint me so i just cant bring myself to pick up the phone and actually vote for him.
He should have gone the week he was in the bottom 2 imo.

Agreed - try as I might I can't see why Nicholas is still in the competition. He needs to get some work in and come back next year -if there is a competition next year!

They always like to show a spread - for non-bias purposes. the editors did not say what they were basing their opinions on - and for the purposes of the show they would have had to show a spread across the mags - just to try and keep everyone guessing and more importantly voting.

imo nicholas's support is growing rapidly despite
having two truly dreadful song choices in a row
and is holding his own against these seasoned pros
yup the boy has done good, a natural performer
all we want is a brilliant song for him to sing...
come on louis stop bumming up shayne

I think we are being fed Shayne on purpose. My theory is that he has already been selected as the winner so everything we read or see regarding the X Factor is biased towards Shayne. It is very odd that Nicholas has had less press coverage than Shayne, when i think he is just as appealing to young teenagers. I think it's all a ploy to brainwash us into voting for the guy.

Of course it is. It's blatantly obvious that they all wnat Shayne to win and even if he doesn't win, Louis has promised Shayne a recording contract.

thats only been said by the papers though, i dont think its true! x

Louis can't promise Shayne a recording contract because he doesn't have a record label, neither does Sharon. All Sharon or Louis can promise or offer anyone is a management contract. They then need someone like Simon to offer their artist a recording contract.