X Factor Betting: Time to consolidate our godless position

X-Factor / Jack Houghton / 25 October 2008 / 4

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The X-Factor may been under attack from everyone from Noel Gallagher to Omar Bakri this week but all the recommended outright bets look healthy, says Jack Houghton.

Scandal, rumour and counter-rumour. Just a typical week of X-Factor exploits. Following Gibb, Gallagher and Brookstein, another show biz heavyweight has jumped on the X-Factor bashing bandwagon. Yes, Richard Madeley has lambasted the show. He thinks it sets up young kids for disappointment.

But it's not all been one-way traffic. Dannii rebuffed Noel Gallagher's original buff and the show - now on the offensive - announced they were in discussions with Beyonce to star in the series finale. But hang on, Celebrity Come Dancing then let slip they had already agreed terms with Beyonce to star on their show. Uh oh. Never mind, X-Factor may not have Beyonce exclusivity, but at least Britney Spears has agreed to make an appearance.

And the headlines don't stop there. Omar Bakri - more commonly known in the British press as the Tottenham Ayatollah (until, I guess, he moved to Lebanon in 2005 and the natty nickname became inexact) - has labelled the show anti-Muslim. His reasoning isn't entirely clear, but has something to do with X-Factor plans to release a charity single with returning servicemen as benefactors. And you better not think this just an attack on the show itself. No, according to Bakri, even those watching the show are guilty of muadaat (hatred) and kufr (non-belief). Muadaat and Kufr - wasn't that the name of the brother-sister group who failed to get through boot-camp?

Further news. Member of JLS, Aston Merrygold (no, that's not his porn star screen name), once played the role of Cookie the Chef in a children's television show. Apparently, his speciality was performing songs about his musical spoon. Now why he dragged along the other no-hopers in JLS is beyond me; he clearly had a series winning act of his own there.

To cap it all, there's been some issue with Ruth Lorenzo's phone number; with some people claiming they were unable to vote for the sultry Spanish senorita (I'm guessing that alliteration isn't original) because the wrong number was displayed on screen during last week's show.

Oh, and Austin isn't gay. Phew. There will be literally two girls everywhere breathing a collective sigh of relief at that news.

So where do all these shenanigans leave us? Well, after a winning eviction punt last week, and with all the recommended outright bets looking healthy, it's time to consolidate our position. As stated before, only Diana, Laura, Alexandra, Austin or Eoghan can possibly win, so until the last few shows, the game is all about predicting the order in which the other losers will exit the show.

Big band week will see the also-rans struggle with a genre completely at odds with their lack of talent. Daniel has been woeful to date, but I can see him doing okay with the right song choice. Ruth, on the other hand, will likely labour - even with the right phone number on display - and JLS and Scott both have car crash potential with this music. But for me, the debacle-in-waiting is Rachel, and I recommend a 1pt back at [2.9] in the Bottom Two Acts market.

Her attempt last week at Wacko-Jacko's Dirty Diana was only marginally better than her first week rendition of a song no one had heard of, and it's hard to see her nailing big band. And although some find her loudmouth ways entertaining, I (aka the omniscient arbiter of X-Factor good taste) don't; and I can't see likely voters spending their money to keep her in.

I would back her in the outright elimination market also, but at this stage it's hard to predict how the judges will vote, so it's best to stick with the veraciously reliable and incorruptible phone poll. Isn't that right Ruth?

Recommended:
1pt back of Rachel at [2.9] in Bottom Two Acts market.

Already Recommended:
1pt back of Diana at [9.4] in Winner market
1pt back of Eoghan at [14.5] in Winner market
1pt back of Simon at [3.7] in Winning Manager market
1pt back of Austin at [9.2] in Winner market

Already Settled:
2pts back of Girlband at [1.65] in Bottom Two Acts market, week two. (WON)

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Sami Helow | 25 October 2008

for your information

Lebanon cleric denies fatwa on British TV show
The Associated Press
Published: October 21, 2008

BEIRUT, Lebanon: A radical Muslim cleric in Lebanon has denied issuing a religious edict -- or a fatwa -- against a British TV show.

The cleric, Omar Bakri Mohammad, dismissed as "complete fabrication" a London Sun report claiming the firebrand preacher issued a fatwa against the British version of the TV talent show X Factor.

The tabloid reported Tuesday that Bakri sparked a terror alert in London after declaring the X Factor show was anti-Muslim because it released a charity single for injured British troops in Afghanistan.

Bakri, a former British resident who is banned from returning to the United Kingdom, says he isn't familiar with the show and that he "definitely" didn't issue a fatwa against it.

Bakri spoke to AP Television News in Beirut on Tuesday.

Source: International Herlarld Tribune
https://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/21/news/ML-Lebanon-Britain-Cleric.php
Sami Helow | 25 October 2008

Lebanon cleric denies fatwa on British TV show
The Associated Press
Published: October 21, 2008

BEIRUT, Lebanon: A radical Muslim cleric in Lebanon has denied issuing a religious edict -- or a fatwa -- against a British TV show.

The cleric, Omar Bakri Mohammad, dismissed as "complete fabrication" a London Sun report claiming the firebrand preacher issued a fatwa against the British version of the TV talent show X Factor.

The tabloid reported Tuesday that Bakri sparked a terror alert in London after declaring the X Factor show was anti-Muslim because it released a charity single for injured British troops in Afghanistan.

Bakri, a former British resident who is banned from returning to the United Kingdom, says he isn't familiar with the show and that he "definitely" didn't issue a fatwa against it.

Bakri spoke to AP Television News in Beirut on Tuesday.

Source: International Herlarld Tribune
https://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/21/news/ML-Lebanon-Britain-Cleric.php
Sami Helow | 25 October 2008

Lebanon cleric denies fatwa on British TV show
The Associated Press
Published: October 21, 2008

BEIRUT, Lebanon: A radical Muslim cleric in Lebanon has denied issuing a religious edict -- or a fatwa -- against a British TV show.

The cleric, Omar Bakri Mohammad, dismissed as "complete fabrication" a London Sun report claiming the firebrand preacher issued a fatwa against the British version of the TV talent show X Factor.

The tabloid reported Tuesday that Bakri sparked a terror alert in London after declaring the X Factor show was anti-Muslim because it released a charity single for injured British troops in Afghanistan.

Bakri, a former British resident who is banned from returning to the United Kingdom, says he isn't familiar with the show and that he "definitely" didn't issue a fatwa against it.

Bakri spoke to AP Television News in Beirut on Tuesday.

Source: International Herlarld Tribune
https://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/21/news/ML-Lebanon-Britain-Cleric.php
Jack Houghton | 25 October 2008

Sami - thanks for bringing that to our attention. I was relying on an internet report of the original article and hadn't seen the response.

Thanks,

Jack