No a black person has never won, but that is no reason to vote for Andy to win!

It is hardly a reality show anyhow but you get my drift and lets hope he wins tonight as he deserved it on the day but not overall as Brenda and Maria were better for me.

If Andy doesn't win I think it will be because not enough people voted for him. I think that if that is the case then probably not as many girlies fancy him. Whether that's cos he's black or cos he's over 40, or because he doesn't have hair - who knows?

Yeah, there is a race problem with a small minority of people, the same as just about every other country in the world, and yeah, I'm sure a small minority of people watching reality TV shows do vote by race. But I'm less than convinced it's significant enough to change the result.

In fact it might well be cancelled out by positive discrimination, people voting for a black winner of X Factor because they think there should be one by now.

I don't suppose anyone would deny that! Still, posts like this do far more harm than good, and if the OP wants to do some good then this is not the way to do it. No, posts like this are designed purely to stir up trouble, and no other reason.

Stop over-reacting to the OP.

They are right to raise the question.

I'm not denying that there's racism in society, but It's too easy to blame racism on someone not winning a talent show. Lenny Henry did win New Faces back in the 70's when we were probably a more racist society than we are now.

Tee hee!

You raise a good point. As well as being a good singer you need to have a star look and if we're honest only Shayne has that of the finalists.

Maria has a star look as well and I expect her to have a career.

As far as black people not winning reality TV, it might just be because most voters, who I guess are white, vote for what their most familiar with, although that doesn't really wash for Big Brother because most of us don't know anyone like that lot.

So no one is prepared to answer my question so I’ll take it that you’re admitting that the the big R is still alive and kicking


Exactly when did Britain become a classless colour blind society? 10, 20, 30, years? Sorry I missed it

I gave an answer in my last post.

Great point, which I never knew. How was the winner decided, BTW?

As far as I can remember the studio audience decided by pressing buttons on their chairs after the panel of judges had made their comments.

Forgot about Lenny winning that and I watched it as well!!!

Back then, people weren't educated that much about being tolerant.

Well done andy you got well over 4 million votes so that is a great return from the public and you really cannot complain at that.

I have won £10 on the very fact from my sister in law. I told her no black person will ever win a reality show!!

You just have to look at Lamar coming 3rd and David Sneddon winning fame academy.

A black person has won though and that was Tim in The apprentice. There was no public vote though, if there was...... se ya later!!

It will happen one day I am sure but not for a good few years yet.

Thats a good point, he can be happy with that fact. I would buy his album if he does one, he has a fantastic voice.

Get Rusty Lee on one of the celebrity shows and it's a done deal.

People have stated that the theory does not hold water because Lenny Henry won New Faces in the 70's. Ok but did you hear the material he was doing. It was stuff he disowns now. He was taking the p*ss out of his colour.

In interviews in later years he always says that after he won & he was playing the clubs he would get stopped at the door by bouncers saying "No black Geezers....aww sorry Len I don't mean you." Hardly an example of a tolerant society was it.

I have no idea why this should matter. but just so you know there was as someone else has said a black a winner in the apprentice...

If we are thinking there could be a connection between race and people not winning things in the UK - Well the winner of season 2 of American Idol was Ruban and I would expect American voters to be more swayed by colour then british...

So yes there have been two winners of reality shows who are black

The Apprentice wasnt for a recording contract! The UK music industry is racist I would say.Other than Lemar(who isnt exactly Robbie Wlliams in slaes figures)then Simon Webbe(too early to know)a black face doesnt sell.Im not being racist or givng my opinion of the acts but just see who has been over the papers during this X Factor-Shayne.Name a black UK solo/group success? The groups that have ethnic/black members(Liberty X and Sugababes)only have the white members featured.Heidi,Michelle and Jessica are often in the press but how many times are the others?
The media is racist as is record companies,dunno about voters on reality shows.Will Brenda and Andy make it big? Doubt it.
Its a sad and harsh fact but true.

And I'll give you another answer. I wouldn't go as far as saying that racism doesn't exist. I know its a cliche but I myself am a black female and I'm lucky enough to have a mixture of friends both white, black, asian, chinese, japanese , mixed etc who I'm friends with purely because they are wonderful and fun people to be with. As time progresses so have our attitudes towards other races. Some have evolved to the accept others and look past a person's skin colour but there are still others who are members of the ' old school' of thinking and still base everything upon a person's apperance and wouldn't trust someone or treat them unfairly just because of the colour of their skin.

I doubt that this will change for now but hopefully these prejudices will eventually fade. However I must admit, compared to when my parents first hit these shores in the 60s, people have learnt to be a little more tolerant

However, X Factor is merely a contest..a competition. The winner was chosen based purely on his popularity and not based upon his skin colour.
Last edited by Nightshift : 17-12-2005 at 23:53

I accept that there's racism in this country. Minimal or otherwise, pretty much determines which part of the country you are from.

I'm white and disgusted that people would judge this competition on colour or gender. I thought Brenda was fantastic, but she was both female and black.

I don't know how people vote and if they choose accoring to gender, age or colour, but I know a good voice when I hear it and judge on the night.

Tonight Andy should've won, but it was not the bias of the public that had him defeated, but that of Simon Cowell who had Shayne as winner all along.

The public who are easily influenced (not by colour, age or gender) but by a judge such as Cowell, were so easily led into giving Shayne the crown.

I totally agree with you. This whole competition had been enigneered for Shayne's success. Andy just wasn't as marketable as Shayne and I bet all Simon could see were pound signs as soon as the public bowed to his will.

Mutya from Sugababes is always in the press, especially when she admits flinging her baby.

How about Jamelia or Ms Dynamite?