After getting into X factor last year, I have been watching this years episodes with some degree of excitement. The auditions are hilariously entertaining and the finals rather inspiring. However, after last week’s episode where my favourite Lucie Jones got X’d I am now questioning the credibility of the show.

X Factor - Jedward v Lucie Jones

X factor and its contestants have always attracted a wealth of column inches, but I can’t help that notice that this has increased ten-fold this year. Could this be due to the higher quality of contestants? No, this year it is not extraordinary talent that is pulling viewers in, but an extraordinary lack thereof in the form of John and Edward.

At first instance, I categorically hated the duo nicknamed Jedward – it was almost expected for them to be in the final 12 once it was announced their fellow countryman Louis Walsh was the mentor for the groups. Lets be honest, the only thing this pair should ever win is a Vanilla Ice look-a-like competition, but their gallant efforts and apparently unrelenting resilience to booing and criticism has captured the public’s hearts.

So when it came down to the bottom two and Jeward where paired with Lucie, I thought it would be near impossible for the twins to be “singing” again next week (I use the term “Singing” very loosely!). However, watching the smug grin on Simon Coward’s face as he put it to the public vote, goes to show that he really knows a thing or two about pulling in viewers and this year Jedward has provided him with a dream ticket. Not only did he pull a tactical move to out Lucie in order to rid of competition for his, at the time, 3 acts left but he also caused yes another peak in column inches.

However, Mr Cowell needs to be a little careful. When suited, he slated the duo off left right and centre, quoting “I would leave the country should they win”. But then why, when given the chance to vote them off, did he save them? He couldn’t could he? Not with viewing figures up 1.8 million on this time last year and the value of advertising slots going through the roof.

With one of the best singers in the competition going out and the worst singers being saved, goes to show that X factor is no longer about talent but the depth of Simons pockets, he is a businessman after all.

I hope Cowell will come to realise that the show is mean to be about talent, it may be hard to imagine that one day the X-Factor may be struggling for viewers, but remember how popular Big Brother was once upon a time?

Simon "Coward" Cowell

While the papers are lapping up the so called talent show antics at the moment, as with anything in the media they could easily turn against the show if that suits their agenda.

So on that note, I hope Mr Cowell will come to his senses and keep the talent on the show – otherwise we could see the god-awful but strangely entertaining Jedward in the charts before you know it and the X-Factor turning into the Big Brother loosing all credibility.