I absolutely see what you're saying, but I think this is an issue about the panels unexpected turnarounds with reference to the contestants. Niamh was always praised by the panel (and Andrew) but the public had put her in the bottom two twice before, so it wasn't surprising that she was there again (and that she went). But I agree that what was surprising was the judges collective change of mind about her suitability.

Quite. According to the author of this article, Ashley would have had everyone in Scotland voting for her, and Tara, Francesca and Sarah would have shared the Welsh vote - which would have been stripped down to just Sarah after week four - yet both Sarah and Ashley have gone. Somehow though, the population of the Fylde Coast is enough to keep Jodie in..?
Last edited by zankoku87 : 20-05-2008 at 13:27

Give over, no it is not.


I agree and I wonder if it was in someone's column where they are paid for their opinions - that would make sense to me.


That's what I thought.


Me too. Of course there will be an element of local support, but once again someone thinks the public are idiots.

Any of the girls left would be able to play Nancy, although some may need more support than others and in different ways too. And Nancy isn't the star of the show, so it won't be the end of the world for ALW or CM who ever wins.

I have to say that he's touched on a point about which I've been biting my tongue...

Are a lot of the Jodie-lovers Lancastrians? Northeners have a tendency to be chauvinistic (not necessarily a bad thing -- I wouldn't be loyal to a Peterborian, but might be to someone from Kettering, my birthplace, or Leicester, where I've lived in the past and which, in any case, comes up with good stuff like Family, the Mack, Kasabian, G. Lineker and Walkers' Crisps).

I'm not being contentious, simply asking

What proof do you have that regional voting is over emphasised?

Without seeing the voting figures and a regional breakdown there's no proof either way.

Good on topic post,zankoku87.

(btw...I am Scottish and wanted the Welsh singer to win the X-Factor last year and I'm certainly not the only potential voter to ignore the geography of the UK. )

No, just as a Niamh supporter


Good one!


I'm a Scot living in the Midlands (and I've never been to Blackpool )

He lost me at 'Niamh's shock exit'. Clearly this journalist's tastes are out of step with the majority and so he has decided to look for spurious reasons for his favourites' failures.

Well, I'm a northerner, and yes, I was born in Blackpool and went to school there, though I lived about 15 minutes away. Yes Jodie is my favourite remaining contestant, but I've also supported two Welsh girls and a girl from London in this competition, and one of those Welsh girls is still my favourite.

It's hard to say whether or not I'd like Jodie if I didn't think she was best suited for the role, because in my opinion, she is the best remaining girl. When Francesca, Keisha and Sarah were still in the competition, though, she was just one of four girls who I would have been happy to see take the part, if that makes sense?

Obviously, there's a part of me that wants to see a local girl do well, but I don't think that I'd support her if she weren't the best in my eyes.

I think it's a bit of a ridiculous article really. As someone else said, the Blackpool vote alone is unlikely to get Jodie through, just as the IOM vote alone probably wouldn't be enough to get Sam through. If that was how it worked, why did the Scottish vote not keep Ashley in? Why did the London vote not keep Keisha in? Why did the Welsh vote not keep Sarah in? A flawed theory.

Also, I'm not an obssessive Jodie fan, I thought the journalist's description of her was really mean and unnecessary. Noone deserves to be written about like that in a national newspaper.

Also, a lot of my friends and family like Jodie best out of all the candidates, and we're from East Anglia...

yes but this is the Daily Torygraph, remember! Very much in tune with ALW's views on what 'nice women' should look like...

I am not saying that this is not a point that needs to be addressed re:their suitability but I was referring to the article and the article alone - within the article, the only one of the contestants that was referred to re:their suitability was Jodie - and none of it positive or constructive in any way shape or form ... sorry if I didn't make that clear


Well I used to attend the Grammar in Lancaster so I have a lot of friends that are still there now and none of them (who watch IDA) have voted for Jodie because of the whole regional thing - there are some who have voted because they think she is the best contender, similarly others have voted for the other Nancy's for that same reason ...

If they were voting for someone else multiple times, they might throw a vote Jodie's way because she is 'from the area' but they wouldn't vote purely on that - they only ever do that if they were voting for others multiple times, so one more call wasn't going to matter either way

Wasn't the whole Scottish vote thing over-hyped on ADWD? The papers kept saying that Keith had a massive fan base because everybody in Scotland (and Tesco!!) would vote for him. He didn't win!

Personally, I vote for my fave no matter where she's from. I'm from Lancashire but vote for Jessie not Jodie.

Im also from up north, liverpool in fact and my favourite has been jessie (who is irish btw). and as for the article saying shock exit! who the hell was he kidding, i mean if anything she should have gone the saturday before. it was her time to go definately.

I'm Lancastrian, not from Blackpool but close by, and a lot of the time am happily a "proud Northerner". I respect Jodie hugely, but have voted and will continue to vote for a different Nancy because I believe she is more talented than Jodie. Could be the exception that proves the rule, but I doubt it.

[

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.




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.


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?


"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""


What an unpleasant peice of journalism. An insult to all IDA fans and to Jody. I am a fan of Niamh but was not left 'reeling' when she left the show. neither were 'many'other fans and supporters I know. 'She never stod a chance', what nonsense; the point is Niamh did fantastic to get this far, however I think she is too young and her voice needs time to mature and develop.
As for the comments about Jodie, totally uncalled for!!!!!!

There is no voting from the RoI I can confirm.

the one big problem is that ALW gets the final say. So, in essence, perhaps, the GBP don't get theirs. Say, if the bottom vote getter is the one getting saved each week, we would have a much different set of girls up there now.

the public (if votes are not tweaked) don't really get their say until the final three.

Yeah i didn't find it a shock

I had to stop here. Obviously this writer is delusional.

I agree - as in the end its just one man - ALW's choice between the final two. I personally prefer the way american idol do it, where its all about the public vote, but, if they have to have someone choosing between the bottom two, surely it would be better to do it more x factor like and have the judges all vote. And ALW only gets the casting vote if its a two two split.

Thanks Maeve

Well, there is the fact that Jessie is in the final four despite coming from a country outside the UK.

But a lot of Irish people live in mainland UK.