From today's Telegraph:

Andrew Lloyd Webber's hunt is sabotaged

"It used to be that when our nation voted, and those votes were counted, we could rely on the great psephologist Robert Mckenzie and his swingometer, to interpret the results. We live in jittery times.

People are disillusioned and unsure, not of whom they support, but whether their support even matters any more. So, in the great professor's absence, please allow me to put these recent upsets in their political context.

Niamh's shock exit from the BBC's I'd Do Anything has left many reeling. The girl is an obvious star - great singer, great dancer, great beauty - but she never stood a chance.

These television talent shows ceased to be television talent shows back in the days of Will Young versus Gareth Gates. What they have become are contests of regional political motivation and muscle. And Andrew Lloyd Webber should be starting to worry.

Last weekend, there were five contenders for the West End role of Nancy in Oliver! Consider the geography. Using my giant map here in the studio, I point to Blackpool - home of Jodie; the Isle of Man - home of Samantha; and then Ireland, which produced Niamh, Rachel and Jessie.

Up in Blackpool, greater Blackpool and the whole of that strongly politicised area, they have gone Jodie mad, despite the fact that she is too old, too heavy and not a natural on the dancefloor. The Isle of Man can't believe it finally matters; although a small constituency, it has become highly activated with its finger permanently on the redial button. And the Irish vote? Fractured; fatally crippled by a three-way split.

In the absence of some good old-fashioned rigging, the producers of Oliver! can now only hope that viewers will choose their favourite Nancy purely on talent. But there is an uncomfortable historical footnote. Reality TV shows have a habit of mirroring life.

Remember The X Factor 2007, back in the happier, early days of Gordon Brown's premiership? Then, Scotland swept something called Leon to victory. He was a bitter disappointment - dour, prone to tears and when he got the Number 1 slot, he didn't seem to know what to do with it. No one would want to see a disaster like that again."


How far do you think regional voting has a part to play? Do you really think voting in IDA and similar is this political? On what basis have you chosen your favourite Nancy: talent/ region/ popularity/ personality or a combination of them all? I find this whole question very interesting as I'm rooting for the Nancy who I think can play the part the best, rather than where she's from or what her personality is like. Am I in the minority on that?

Just interested to know what you guys think.

Analogies involving cats and pigeons spring to mind.

Interesting article.

That's a good thing, though, right?
My intentions are all good; just to bring the article to people's attention and to point out that I find its conclusion quite unlikely. Not trying to annoy anyone.

Interesting article - thanks for that.

I started off supporting Tara. I've seen her performing in various things over the years, as I'm a Welsh speaker, so she got my vote (she really is a great perfomer by the way).

When she left, I lost interest for a week or two, then started supporting Jessie. I now think she's fantastic and the best performer there.

I have no problem with controversy. But others might.

Thanks for posting.

Isn't it the Eurovision Song Contest that ignores talent and votes purely on political alliances?

I find the Telegraph article just one sweeping generalisation.
At the end of the day it is just one person's opinion.

Was Niamh's exit really a shock? It was her third time in the bottom two, wasn't it?

It mentions that the Irish vote is fractured.

Can any Irish FM's clear this up are people in the ROI able to vote?

hmm yup, thats what i was thinking

Personally I think that article is a bit ridiculous and personal motivations (dislike of Jodie, support for Niamh) have biased it.

First of all, what are they supposed to do, limit the number of competitors from a particular area to make sure they don't run the risk of splitting the regional vote?

In my opinion, (and I know that many people on this board share it) Niamh did awfully well to get as far as she did, given that physically and vocally she didn't suit the part very well. Jodie is a force in this competition because she is an excellent singer and actress, suits the part, has been by far the most consistently excellent performer and has secured the support of the public. She fully deserves to find herself in the final and was always a far stronger candidate than Niamh.

There is no mention of Ashley, who has gone out despite having the much talked about 'Scottish vote' all to herself. Personally, I've never come across any suggestion that the 'Blackpool vote' is any kind of force to be reckoned with in these competitions. Jessie has made it to the semi final without once being in a sing off despite the fact that she hasn't got access to any home town vote (viewers in the Republic can't vote).

And that's my two cents

No, the ROI can't vote. NI, however, can.

It's not.

I'm in NI but I know it isn't possible to ring the 0901 number from the South. Only ordinary landline numbers, for example, 01 or 02 prefixes and 07 mobile prefixes can be dialled. For example, I can't ring my 0845 telephone banking number when I'm at relatives in Dublin.

I don't know if it's possible to ring it using Skype or similar VOIP telephony. Is there any techie out there who can answer that?

Ok thanks

So that should favour Rachel.

That article is one giant generalisation of the whole show!

Firstly yes, people from wherever the contestant is from are more likely to vote for 'one of their own' but that is no reason to suggest that is the only reason that particular Nancy got through ... Also I like the fact that Jodie has the support of Blackpool while Rachel, Niamh and Jessie got the "Irish vote" ... even split three ways if they really had the Irish vote (which is hard to get anyway seeing as only N.Ireland can vote ) would probably count for more than the votes of Blackpool!

And where do us voters who don't have any 'loyalties' lie in this generalisation? I am a Northern girl myself so I should be (according to this) be voting for Jodie because she is a Northern girl ... now Jodie is one of my favourites, but not because she is from a town near me but because I think she has the talent! I would still vote for her if she came from Mars if she had the talent!

As for Niamh's shock exit ... what?! She has been in the singoff twice before Sunday night; was told she was one of the weakest on Saturday; two of the panel said she wasn't Nancy on Sunday; the panel had expressed concerns about her stamina and look for the role - from day one; and she was up against someone who was better in the singoff ... so if that was a shock then I must be very cynical!

I'm no techie, but even if there was a way around it, only the really hard core fans would find it out and use it. Casual viewers wouldn't be bothered.

Oh, something else I meant to say but forgot was that the comment about Jodie - despite the fact that she is too old, too heavy and not a natural on the dancefloor. was very spiteful and uncalled for ...

None of the other Nancy's had their age, weight or abilities commented on! I mean yes she is the oldest but Rachel is only a couple of years younger; so what if she isn't a size 8? I like Jodie the way she is!; Jessie isn't a natural on the dancefloor either - nobody mentioned that!

It sounds like the "reporter" let their personal views cloud their objectivity in this article

*rant over*

Totally agree Mel.

Also, I don't know where they're getting Niamh the brilliant dancer from. I direct you to her performance of Valerie. She's a bit better than our little tomboy Jessie, but I can't see anyone casting her in a role based on her dancing abilities.

Maybe not in this article mel1213 but surely that's been central to the "debate" over IDA. She's too young... She's not ready... She's too fragile... The Olivers would dwarf her... and therefore if Niamh, Sam and even Jessie's age and Niamh's size has been relevant why isn't Jodie's age and size? There is a lot of hypocrisy on this point.

Yet another thread becomes a debate about Jodie

Yes, riff. Her supporters are set upon making every thread an unofficial Jodie Prenger appreciation thread. I don't think that this endears Jodie to those who suport other contestants and is surely a great disservice to her.

I think posters were responding to the article, which focuses on Jodie (and Niamh). Isn't that a reasonably natural response?

I do agree that it wasn't a shock that Niamh went this week, but I see their point. She's talented, pretty etc all the things they say, and I think what they mean is that she's been so good all the way through and then the judges turned and then everyone else did too. Or am I talking rubbish?

I'd say it was even more mindless pointscoring about something which has been debated many,many times in many,many threads rather than particularly being a debate about Jodie.

RETURNING TO TOPIC,I think that article writer is over-emphasising the amount of 'regional voting'.
I've yet to see any proof anywhere that it is of any significance.

This article has failed to mention the vast amount of floating voters who will vote on the night irrespective of location.

Even if Leon did secure the Scots vote there is no way that alone would have made him the winner of X Factor. There just aren't enough scots compared to the English.

Isn't Eurovision this week? If so watch out who gets the *pink* song. Aka something like *somewhere over the rainbow*. That my firends is the winner's song of the night as the Euro votes will vote en masse for that number.