X-Factor / Mike Norman / 27 October 2009 / Leave a comment

On the brink of a cataclysmic breakdown, "Mystical" Mike Norman is demanding to know why John and Edward keep surviving, but can see rock-y times ahead for both Lloyd and Rachel when The X Factor continues this weekend.

"For me he is the best singer stroke performer in the competition, but he’s not even close to Olly ([5.8]) when it comes to likeability. Olly is improving fast, though big band week was always going to be his cup of tea..."

Was it the week that The X Factor officially became a joke? Talentless John and Edward make it through to the next round of the competition whilst Danyl - the one time favourite to win the competition no less - was voted into the bottom two.

I only stopped short of saying 'officially' voted into the bottom two because at the time of writing I haven't taken in any aftermath of Sunday's shocking results show.

But surely there will be some aftermath (which Jack Houghton will report on in his next piece). Surely now it's time to release voting figures. Who the hell in this world is voting for John and Edward? There are 50 billion people on Facebook who want to shoot them, and their only two followers on Twitter are following them only because they can't spell Rachel Adedeji.

Yet somehow, this unbearable disillusioned duo are receiving enough votes to keep them progressing. Could it be that their parents are spending thousands of pounds voting for them so that the little brats don't have to return home?

Perhaps I should make a heartfelt appeal to the Grim Reaper. Michael Jackson was my favourite dancer, but you took him away. Keith Floyd was my favourite chef, but you took him away also. I loved Jade Goody, but you came and got her, and Patrick Swayze was my all time favourite actor, but sadly you took him too. If you're reading Grim Reaper, I feel compelled to tell you that my favourite ever X Factor contestants are John and bloody Edward!

Moving on. Last week I highlighted the market drift for Lucie Jones, but in my opinion she was the most outstanding performer on Saturday, and consequently, she is now back into [7.4] to win the competition. If she can keep performing like this then she is back in with a great chance of winning.

The new favourite to win the show is fellow north-easterner Joe McElderry - or Joseph to me and you.

He has been pretty much faultless during his three live performances to date and I can only see his win odds of [4.9] shorten during the month of November. He may struggle to shine when rock week (cue Jamie Afro) comes to town on Saturday, but he's already done enough to survive a few below-par performances, making Jack Houghton's early [12.0] shout, and my own [11.5] hunch about Joe winning look quite good.

Yes I know Jack, yours was a solid selection and mine was just a hunch... there's two kinds of tipsters and all that... blah blah bloody blah mate.

I have to agree with Jack about Danyl ([6.2]) however. For me he is the best singer stroke performer in the competition, but he's not even close to Olly ([5.8]) when it comes to likeability. Olly is improving fast, though big band week was always going to be his cup of tea so I wouldn't lose complete faith in Danyl just yet.

Onto the 4th Elimination market. Assuming John and Edward ([4.7] to go) are going to murder a classic Queen song but easily poll enough votes to still be here next month, then it's virtually impossible not to see Rachel ([2.82]) and Lloyd ([4.5]) being in the bottom two.

I actually think Rachel will be suited by rock, so if she is in the bottom two with Lloyd (who I think could really struggle this week), and the judges are true to their word by 'keeping in' whoever performs best on the night, then I think Lloyd could go. At [4.5] in the 4th elimination market he is my selection this week.

Incidentally, in the Bottom Two Combo market, Lloyd/Rachel is available to back at a very tempting [5.9]. If you can't decide who will go but, like me, you think these guys will struggle, then this is the bet for you.

Tags: Danyl, John and Edward, Lloyd, Lucie Jones, Rachel Adedeji, The X Factor, The X Factor Betting