Now, could somebody explain to me how it was fixed?

Could someone also explain to me why she shouldn't have gone?

A few things.

Her performances have been the same Jazz performance every week.

Now not everyone likes Jazz.

People vote to keep people in. Nobody or not enough people voted for Laura. So, she is in the bottom two.

Now it's all about who the majority of the public like.

Let me interlude here by saying, I can understand why people like the others, with exception of Rachel which was a hugely orchestrated sob story when she sang badly.

Now why do I mention this? If Rachel was in the bottom two, she would have gone. This is the only reason. Now I believe the judges comments can go either way and they can give acts some leeway but this was just too much when an act wasn't good enough. Completely unfair.

Back on track.

Ruth was the better singer in the bottom two. Regardless of Judge intervention or anything else - she was the better singer. I know this is subjective but her performance was amazing. Laura's, was another Jazz number - Somewhere over the Rainbow is popular because it's a light hearted song. Making it into a Jazz song is just showing off used by a few artists to show off.

Ruth, just made a bad show, just that little bit better. Not even Mariah or Ruth could have saved how bad the show was.

If anything, it was the Rachel incident that caused the problem. Why they let her off. Why she got away with no criticism. Why her complaining and annoyance is giving her benefit - is the problem.

Saying Laura should get a free pass after being voted out, is not.

It's only a "fix" if your favourite goes out.

When a favourite goes it is always regarded as a fix,but at the end of the day it is normally complaincy of their fans that has ended their dream.

I think there has only ever been one dodgy result when Javine votes were added to Nadines votes in popstars the rivals.
At the end of the day that result turned outto be a good decision in the end.

Totally agree with this post. All this hullabaloo about Laura is starting to get on my nerves. It's like the Russell Brand/ Jonathan Ross ordeal all over again with the media making a big fuss and the public jumping on the bandwagon booooring

Sorry, this is the first time I heard of this? Was this on the final show?

Not necessarily so. Have been reading about the thousands of people who couldn't actually get their votes logged for Laura on Sat night. I seem to remember something similar happening to Rhydian last year.... To be honest I've felt that it's a fix for a while now, not just this series..... I think it's cut and dried from the beginning. Just my opinion.

Personally, I think people are loking at this the wrong way round. Both contestants in the sing-off were way better than Rachel, Daniel and Eoughan.

Rachel is egotistical, manipulative and confrontational. Daniel is cheesy and more of a lounge singer or cruise ship performer, and Eoughan is just too young and lacking in confidence. That's not to say Daniel can't make a good living singing or that Eoughan can't do the same in time, it's just they are not star material.

As for Rachel, well using her kids to win votes is despicable. If she really cared about her kids, she'd be at home with them, not spending weeks away in pursuit of her 15 minutes of fame - plenty of other parents want the best for thier kids and get it by hard work, not throwing tantrums in front of the camera and moaning about everyone else.

Laura was my favourite but even I have to admit that some of her performances were not outstanding. She should have definitely lasted a lot longer but she would have needed to up her game to win.

Ruth definitely outperformed her in the sing off

I have also never heard about this before and would like to know more...?

The X-Factor uses a phone voting system that doesn't differentiate between the contestants at the "can't get through stage".

If the lines are overloaded it affects all the contestants equally, hence if 30% of the intended votes aren't getting through, 30% of the votes for each contestant aren't being logged. But 70% are. Which mathematically means the result is entirely unaffected.

Do i remember the voting lines opening immediately after Leon sang and before Rhidian last year int he fianl?? Both lines could have been open but they didnt put Rhidians number up until he completed or some such error????

Just a vague memory so i could have it totally wrong!

Just to point out that Rachel is living at home with her kids during the competition and not staying in the X Factor House.

Phone lines will naturally get busy. I don't see why you're bringing up the Rhydian example - Ofcom investigated those ludicrous complaints and the show was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Both numbers were shown prior to both boys singing.
When Leon sung quite rightly his number was put up when Rhydian sang his number was put up.
The numbers were the same number used for the 3 hours prior to them singing the final song.
The lines opened before Leon sang.

As diana got the free-pass to next round, many of the diana fans took this opportunity to get rid of the major threat. They all must have voted for weaker contestents.

Naturally laura pushed to bottom 2, and in sing-off Ruth delivered stunning performance!

me too .....

This is not even close to possible with a draw of 8 contestants and with that being said, wouldn't this push contestants weaker than Laura to the bottom?

Shouldn't her fanbase be strong enough?

What you are saying is Laura was the short draw because Diana fans pushed her out. Now why Laura? Why not Alex? Why not JLS? Why not Eoghan?

If Laura is a fave.

Laura just wasn't good enough for the mass of voters who base their opinion on the show.

Not everyone, especially the viewers, like Jazz.

Yes indeedy. When my favourite goes out I'm getting up a petition. Anyone care to sign it now? I thought I'd get a head start.

My act is still in but I'm already drafting my letter to my MP and to Ofcom for when they do go. It pays to be prepared

I think it's quite simple. Diana and Laura appeal to the same fan base and it's Diana they've gone for.

yeah, i agree. also, diana not singing may have one some way to the result. people may well have switched off when they realised she wasnt singing, and therefore not voted for laura

I've always voted for both.

I was a huge Laura fan. But her performance didn't really cut it on Saturday, and Ruth was the one that shone in the sing off. Laura should have gotten further, but she didn't. Her fanbase clearly wasn't big enough, unfortunately.

I love the way FM are comming out left right and center saying

'Get over it'

'She was voted out because she wasnt good enough'

'It wasnt a fix'

I dont think the phone lines were fixed, but a lot of other things were

I dont think her fans want to get over it, and why should they when other acts that are IMO and a lot of others opinions utter tripe

and most important IMO and others opinions she was not voted off because she was not good enough ( I thought ruth and Laura were equal in the singoff)

Do you think she will return to the show and win it?

If not, why not?

I agree with your comments.

My ratings for Rachel has gone downhill since the last show. She doesn't seem genuine. I see a desperate performer who wants this competition so much because it will bring her more money to boost that ego of hers. Not good enough, but if you like that sort of thing, then she's all yours.

**claps** Well said! Thank you.