X-Factor / Chicken Dinner / 01 November 2007 /

Betting vagabonds Chicken Dinner run through the X Factor lineup ahead of Saturday's third elimination

All the talk in the X Factor gossip circles is that this week will be a double elimination, which could see Sharon Osbourne celebrating bonfire night alone and jobless. Her girls look the most likely to get the axe, but who else should be on 'yellow alert'?

Alisha
Sharon Osbourne has a track record of mismanaging promising soul singers (Maria, eighth, series two; Dionne, tenth, series three). So Alisha (2.68) to be voted off on Betfair, is in big trouble. That said, only once before has an act been in the bottom two for three weeks in a row (the woeful Conway Sisters, series two).

Emily
It seems that Emily (4.4) - street name, Lady Shiverz - is not the innocent young girl who cheated death, but a rampant street criminal and gang member. This will certainly shake things up - either she will be urged to sing something moving, or given a tune she has no way of handling as the producers scramble to get rid of her. Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song should do it. Simon Cowell doesn't appear to care for her much either, which influences voters, and without her cloak of innocence her tiny fan base may disintegrate.

Same Difference
Might Same Difference (7.2) be turning into this year's 'Chico' (fifth, series two), the Butlin's act that won't go away? There is clearly a silent constituency that loves the intensely cheesy stuff, who are drawn to shows like this like moths to a 100 watt spot. So while Difference feel like they'll be the first group to go, how much dead wood has to be shifted before their mysterious support can no longer save them? A real headscratcher.

Andy and Leon
Both dull and limited, but Andy (8.4) is duller. His inability to sing anything other than George Michael or Elton John is a drag, and his "I'm just a normal Welsh asbestos worker" thing triggers the part of your brain that makes you brick up the lounge. If he repeats last week's colossal error (Staying Alive), catastrophe awaits. Leon (13.5) has a stronger appeal to teenage girls looking for something sweet and vulnerable, a demographic which is not afraid to express its opinions via mobile phone.

Beverley
Audiences love Beverley (17) because she's a good sport, but her similarity to Rowetta (fourth, series one) and Brenda (fourth, series two), suggest she won't go the distance. With Niki more likely to bag the 'ballsy mum' votes, Bev might yet make a surprise visit to the bottom two. Musical theatre beckons before much longer.

Futureproof
These are the guys who will really be dining out on the teeny votes. Of course, hearts will be broken when it transpires that Futureproof (60) is a majority gay outfit. But, for now, they're in the closet - stay in there, chaps!

Rhydian
Closest in type to G4 (runners-up, series one), Rhydian (55) should be in it to win it. With Christmas imminent, he'll soon be melting geriatric hearts with some dramatic holiday favourites (check the link to see Rhydian perform Phantom of the Opera). Untouchable.

Hope
A sexed-up Girls Aloud (winners, Popstars: the rivals), like Rhydian, Hope (90) will become increasingly appealing during the chilly festive season. And a trillion pounds says they will soon be dressed in sex shop Santa outfits, singing that Mariah Carey Christmas song. However, male groups and duos have always done better than their female counterparts on X Factor.

Niki
Like a perfect fusion of soulful Steve Brookstein (winner, series one) and powerful voiced Leona Lewis (winner, series three) Niki (85) has all the winning ingredients bar one - youth.

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