X-Factor / Dan Fitch / 24 November 2010 / 1

In order to prove that Wagner can win the X-Factor, Dan Fitch looks at the worst ever reality show winners.

Wagner can win the X-Factor. We never doubted it and told you this a couple of weeks ago. Now the rest of the world are catching on.

The Brazilian warbler is currently priced at just [10.5] to win the X-Factor. It has been reported in the media that Wagner has been in the top three of the votes every week, as the people attempt to subvert Simon Cowell's money-making machine.

He can't sing, but undeserving winners have emerged from TV shows in the past. Here are the five worst reality show winners.

5. Michelle McManus - Pop Idol Second Series Winner

Part of the reason why Simon Cowell named his show 'The X-Factor' was to subtly suggest that a good singing voice alone isn't enough to be a successful pop star.

Michelle McManus definitely didn't have the 'X-Factor', looking better suited to working on the checkouts with Tesco Mary than headlining Wembley Arena. Pop Idol judge Pete Waterman, spent much of the second series pointing out that that McManus didn't look like a pop star (ie. dangerously thin).

She might not have looked the part, but McManus won Pop Idol against turgid opposition such as Sam and Mark, who rather than becoming singing stars, have ended up spending the last seven years pratting around on CBBC. McManus also found the going tough and was quickly dropped by her label. Let's face it, she was never going to be an 'Idol', although it did look like she might pop.

The standard in this series was really low and it was no surprise when Cowell created the X-Factor, with the aim of broadening the search and allowing older folk a chance at stardom (until the show was won by Steve Brookstein and it was decided that this could never happen again).

4. Matt Willis - I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here Sixth Series Winner

The sixth series of I'm A Celebrity is remembered for one thing and one thing only: Myleene Klass constantly soaping herself while wearing a very skimpy bikini.

Normally such behaviour from a beautiful woman would alienate the watching female public, but somehow Klass seemed down to earth and generally nice enough to be popular with everyone. As a result, she was not only fancied by the male audience, but also by the bookies.

Instead the show was won by the 8/1 outsider Matt Willis. He had done precious little to suggest that he could win, only to eat a kangaroo anus on the final night and somehow snatch an unlikely victory. As the former lyricist and singer with Busted, Willis was obviously used to having deeply unpleasant things spewing out of his mouth.

3. Michelle Dewberry - The Apprentice Second Series WInner

There was only ever going to be one winner of the second series of The Apprentice. Ruth 'The Badger' Badger, was a fearsome competitor and seemed to have the no-nonsense business savvy that would appeal to Sir Alan. The only problem was that she didn't win...

Sugar obviously couldn't stomach the idea of working with someone who was even mouthier than him and looked liked she'd just stepped off the set of Prisoner Cell Block H. Instead, he hired the much prettier and less gobby Michelle Dewberry, which backfired when she walked out of the £100,000 job after just 11 months. Even temps stick around for longer than that.

2. JJ and James - The Restaurant Third Series Winner

The Restaurant didn't quite catch on like the other shows we've included on this list. Desperately aspiring to match The Apprentice at the classier end of the reality spectrum, the show featured couples battling against each other to open a restaurant with the legendary Raymond Blanc.

JJ and James, cocktail bar owners and the winners of the third and final series of The Restaurant, were so bad that they effectively killed the franchise. The concept required one half of the couple to work front of house, while the other toiled in the kitchen. So it was something of a surprise that JJ and James managed to triumph, despite the fact that their 'chef' JJ, would struggle to rustle you up a decent cheese on toast.

The small matter of JJ's inability to cook didn't stop the self-assured duo from winning the ultimate prize against admittedly dreadful opposition. Their restaurant is due to open in December, except it's not actually a restaurant but is instead another cocktail bar, promising drinks by JJ and canapés by Raymond Blanc. Perhaps JJ still hasn't worked out how to switch on the oven.

1. Ulrika Johnson - Celebrity Big Brother Sixth Series Winner

The big favourite to win Celebrity Big Brother in 2009 was the pint-sized film star Verne Troyer. If Troyer didn't win, it was assumed that the victor would either be The Word presenter Terry Christian, or the motor-mouthed rapper Coolio.

What no one had considered a possibility was that the show would be won by Ulrika Johnson. The former TV-AM weather girl had done nothing but make snide comments and look more miserable than Gillian McKeith for two weeks.

Our theory is that on final night, a load of people tuned in who hadn't been watching the series and Ulrika was the only one they'd heard of. As with all Big Brother winners, she was interviewed by Davina McCall after her triumph, in what was the first televised meeting between two women who had both slept with Stan Collymore.

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1. andy | 27 November 2010

   This is just a bit misogynistic.

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