Betfair Official Blog

Beverley beats wardrobe miscalculation to land big blows on the competition

Betfair radio pundit Ian Brindle finds much to admire in primary school teacher's latest X Factor performance

"Everyone likes a fighter", proclaimed Simon Cowell after Alisha Bennett's performance on Saturday's X Factor - an unfortunate turn of phrase given the events of the last seven days - but one that was to be immediately followed by a rendition of Hanky Panky - the Madonna ode to the virtues of spanking.

With 'happy slapper' Emily despatched, ITV needed a watercooler moment to rescue the series and this was to be provided by a classic twist in the tale.

On the face of it, all appeared to follow the typical formula. The audience watched the traditional diatribe of calamities and chances missed, as our remaining acts seemed none too happy with their lots.

Leon didn't want to go back to being a sales assistant; Alisha to being a receptionist; Andy to the world of asbestos removal, while dinnerlady, Niki had been upset by listening to other singers on the radio.

Sarah, from Same Difference, tearfully recalled her past treatment from school bullies, and who could fail not to be moved by Hope's Leah as sobbed about her feeling of not amounting up to anything when celebrities visited the clothes shop she worked at. A situation probably all too familiar to series one winner, Steve Brookstein.

Although some layers would have been surprised to see Futureproof (matched at 75) and Hope (matched at 120) pitted against each other in the elimination face off; regional voting had its part to the play.

Andy Williams had traded at odds of 1.64 prior to market suspension and it was easy to see why some players were prepared to take short prices.

Having parodied fellow countryman, Andy Scott-Lee throughout the competition, this week, white-suited Williams paid homage to faded Pop Idol runner-up, Gareth Gates.

Delivering another dull and stylistically dated performance, the viewer could be thankful that the Welshman had bothered to wear a large wristwatch as this saved them the trouble of looking at their own.

Nervy Leon produced his best performance of the series although it was strange to hear Sharon Osborne remark that the Scot is "right for the final" on what we have seen so far.

Osbourne's grip on reality has been a subject of debate for some time, so her belief that it was difficult for the guys to do well in the X Factor was somewhat bewildering. A perusal at the previous roll of honour reveals Steve Brookstein and Shayne Ward landing the first two series, with Andy Abraham and Raymond Quinn as runners up in series two and three respectively.

Her remaining act, Alisha progressed despite a vocal that was lost within the confines of a poor musical arrangement.

Same Difference somewhat stretched the genre with their choice of song and underlined why they are the unlikeliest winners left in the competition.

Boy-girl combos have always had the ambiguity of chemistry between the pair so care was taken to avoid it through a bizarrely choreographed shaking of hands near the end of their performance. As a viewer, one didn't know whether to feel more relieved by that act or not.

Sarah seemed to struggle with the higher notes and it is surely time to send the karaoke couple packing.

Niki's performance of 'All That Jazz' appeared to miss the idea that this was a pop music competition. The change of image didn't work and if Louis Walsh is to continue to select less contemporary material for the mother-of-two, there are likely to be a few backers with succinct ideas as to where to stick Saturday's ubiquitous trumpet.

Rhydian performed the Shirley Bassey version of "Get The Party Started" with a delivery and outfit that was camper than Christopher Biggins at a scout jamboree.

A warm favourite in the outright market, the operatic has the quirkiness to carry off such absurdity but is it a worry as to when voters become tired of the joke?

Simon Cowell appeared to be Rhydian's biggest advocate on the night but past form tells us that he is a master of reverse psychology when it comes to other's acts.

Avid viewers of the third series will remember how Cowell lavished praise on Ben Mills only to see the pint sized pianist crash out in third place. Where Cowell has previously shown disdain towards acts (e.g. Chico and The MacDonald Brothers); the phone voters have exacted their own retribution and with two vulnerable acts left, this is a scenario he can ill afford.

Despite a "wardrobe malfunction" that could have led to the more myopic viewer believing that they were watching Fatima Whitbread; Beverley Trottman was responsible for the performance of the night. This has consequently led to a correction in her price in the outright market and on this evidence the primary school teacher could be around for some time.

Hope survived elimination but this is a make or break week for the outfit. Out of tune, and arguably more so in the second performance, it will be interesting to see if the voters still wish to buy into the group when the likes of Girls Aloud and the Sugarbabes are already around in the charts.

This week's suggestion: 4th Elimination: BACK Same Difference.