X Factor 2009 Betting: Cowellgate set to sweep the nation

X-Factor / Mike Norman / 09 November 2009 / Leave a Comment

If looks could kill. X Factor's Simon Cowell will receive many of those look himself this week after his decision to save John & Edward causes a national outcry

"What I find even more annoying however, is the fact that Cowell knew exactly what he was doing, and in doing so has acted in the most contradictive and bigoted way imaginable."

Mike Norman pulls no punches when castigating Simon Cowell's decision to save 'Jedward' this week, and explains why Mr Nasty knew exactly what he was doing.

That Simon Cowell bloke certainly knows how to cause controversy. If you thought last week's decision to save Lloyd (which led to the elimination of Rachel) was controversial, then Sunday's decision to save John and Edward goes completely off the scale.

Cowell's decision - which ultimately led to the elimination of the fantastic Lucie Jones - is without doubt the most provocative moment in X Factor history.

I don't read newspapers and I very rarely watch the news, but what I'm going to find incredibly difficult to swallow this week is the fact that Cowellgate is going to get more column inches and TV coverage than serious news items like preventing our soldiers from being killed in Afghanistan. True, X Factor has always had immense media interest, but generally in a light-hearted way and not in the 'headline news' way that it is going to get this week.

What I find even more annoying however, is the fact that Cowell knew exactly what he was doing, and in doing so has acted in the most contradictory and bigoted way imaginable.

Moments before Lucie and Jedward (as they are now known) delivered their 'sing-off' performances, Cowell (not for the first time) said something along the lines of how he would make his decision (on who to save and who to send home) purely on the performances that he was about to see. In fact on this occasion, Cowell promised to make his decision this way.

What followed then was Lucie giving a faultless rendition of Whitney Houston's One Moment In Time, minutes before John and Edward sang Rock DJ whilst appearing to practice some childish, self-created wrestling moves such was their over-hyper antics on stage.

But Cowell didn't do what he'd promised to do because that would have meant elimination for Jedward - and with it the chance to make an absolute fortune out of this year's most talked about contestants.

John and Edward appear to be two likeable down-to-earth guys just living the dream. They are witty and entertaining to an extent, but dreadful at singing and performing. However, they've caught the imagination of the media and become overnight stars. Elimination on Sunday would still have meant success for the twins - a few cheesy pop songs and a shot at presenting - but the controversy Cowell has caused by saving them will increase the attention and interest in them ten-fold.

Not a day will pass this week without you reading or hearing about Cowellgate, and rather cleverly (on Cowell's part) this will mean one simple thing - more money in the Cowell coffers from John and Edward's success.

Remember, Simon Cowell is a businessman only out to make money; and like most successful businessmen, he cares little for who he upsets, or whose career he wrecks along the way. You don't get to be called Mr Nasty by being nice you know!

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Now, onto matters that I intended to talk about this week - who is going to win The X Factor this year? I've now got it down to two men - Olly Murs and my original pick Danyl Johnson.

In five years of watching X Factor I have no hesitation in saying that Olly's performance on Saturday was the best performance I've ever seen by a male contestant on the show. The guy simply oozes class, has a terrific voice, and as every week goes by he looks more and more comfortable.

It's no surprise to me that Olly ([2.96] in the Winner market) is an entertainer, as is Danyl ([4.7]). Regular readers of this column will remember I told you that this year's contest will be won by an entertainer rather than just a 'voice' alone. And this is the reason why I'm going off Joe McElderry ([5.5]) a little. I'm happy to have advised him at [11.5] a month ago, but he is becoming a little dull and boring now and I don't think he will win.

I can't see Stacey ([6.4]) - who I did tell you from the outset would be the last remaining girl (so yes Jack, that's yet another winning selection from me) - winning, neither can I see Jamie ([17.0]), Lloyd ([70.0]) or (dare I say it?) John and Edward ([22.0]).

There's no 6th Elimination market as I write but when that does materialise Lloyd should be available to back at around [2.8], and personally, I think his time is up.