I hate when TV programmes try to fool us. I noticed that at the judges homes, when it was revealed that finalists where through to the live shows. They were all shown calling their families on mobiles phones, then you would hear the families cheering in the background when told.

Then on the Xtra factor it showed some of them going home to their families who were pretending to not know. The finalist would then say "Im through" and the whole family would cheer.

Do they think we are stupid?? It was a total act I wonder how much more they will act out and portray to us as reality. I don't trust them at all.

on the xtra factor it actuallly said they have told close family like parents but are keeping it a secret from the rest

I could just imagine people sitting around on the couch, wondering why they have cameras in their living rooms...

Truly terrible!

Too much of this show is faked

As arjaco1 said, they explained this on Xtra Factor. Only some of them were shown going home and only some phoned home and for those that had both, they supposedly only told their parents who kept the secret

It seems the producers of the main show decided to drop the "going home" sequences this year. (And I don't blame them, after travelling to Barbados, Cannes and St Tropez, who really wants to travel around bleak, miserable England this summer?!)

During one of the "Phone calls" the phone was actually switched off, the screen was totally blank

The whole "trust" thing is interesting. The only thing I trust them with is entertaining me for 2 hours on a Saturday night. I'd probably trust them with the voting (especially these days) but I don't go for that.

I know the whole thing is marvellously manipulated and edited. That the judges reactions at the auditions aren't always "live" and are inserted later. That not all days at auditions start badly and suddenly brighten up with a sob story. That they play the same emotional power ballads in the background. That the judges don't have the final say on who makes the finals. That Danni and Cheryl don't actually have homes in Cannes and St Tropez. That the final showdowns are irrelevant and that Simon and the producers decide who goes through. And I also know that Louis doesn't actually write his own limmericks in Xtra Factor.

But does it really matter?

Not for me anyway. Sad fool that I am, I was still sitting excitedly awaiting the results last night along with another 11 million people.

Every show on TV does the same. From Top Gear (more scripted than Eastenders!) to The Apprentice. I'd say don't worry about it, it's not harming anyone, and enjoy some great TV!

The show seems to be pretty much fixed> Each year we get the I am not sure about this one. Then the sorry you are not through.

Then Simon has secons thoughts call him or her back and says he has changed his mind

Each year you get a dramtic scene where the show says it has had to throw someone out for breaking the rules. They then call back one of those that did not go through.

So watch this space for the eviction could be this week or next week.

Excellent post. I Completely agree. Congratulations!

My phone goes blank when I'm in the middle of a phone call