X-Factor / Jack Houghton / 09 October 2010 /

Jack Houghton begins a series long head-to-head betting battle with fellow columnist Mike Norman this week, and he's already against the wee Geordie judge with the poor decision making skills

For two years they've clashed over the X-Factor. In 2008, Mike Norman prevailed. In 2009, Jack Houghton made it honours even. Norman's claims of foul-play last year sparked a brawl at the betting.betfair Christmas party. To avoid a repeat performance, the editors have decided to formalise things this year. Each armed with a £1,000 and their We-Love-You-Simon badges, Mike Norman and Jack Houghton go head-to-head - tipping their way to a Christmas number one.

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X Factor news has had me reminiscing this week. University days-gone-by. Went out with a French girl. From Perpignan. It started well. Promising a "big surprise" and a "specially extended show", I lured her back to my room. I was unable to deliver either. She left the next morning, disappointed.

X Factor makes the same promises for Saturday's show and, it seems, its audience has already been let down. If tabloid reports are to be believed, each judge will be allowed to bring forth one rejectee as a wildcard entrant. Those of you hoping this will mean a reappearance for Gamu are to be disappointed. Reportedly already aware of potential visa issues for the Zimbabwean-born singer, Cheryl was instructed to boot her out. The show may be extended, but all surprise is gone.

Not that this series won't alight our senses with scandal and titillation. After all, there's already been plenty happening to whet our appetites. A boot-camper has been tarred a prostitute by the News of the World; The Sun claim that "careworker" John Adeleye has previously held a recording contract and won a MOBO award; and some have claimed the show exploits those with mental health issues.

What nonsense. It's the other way round: those with mental health issues exploit the show. There are Simon and his band of hard-working judges, tirelessly scouring the country in a quest for genuine musical talent, constantly interrupted by the latest noodle-nod to escape confinement and sneak stage-side. It's far from exploitative: they provide temporary care in communities that no longer do.

Changing the subject completely, we hear that finalist Cher Lloyd will have a counsellor on hand 24/7. She was bullied at school, according to The Mirror, although The Sun have some girl called Ophelia who claims that Cher bullied her. Cher and Ophelia - weren't they the characters who had a bit of a set-to in Hamlet?

Well Cher, enter your prince: Liam from newly-formed boy-band, One Direction. Tabloid reports abound that the two spent an "intimate night together" in a Premier Inn in Wembley. Welcome to big-time show-business. Well if it's good enough for Lenny Henry...

In other news, judge contract negotiations seem to have already begun for 2011, with Walsh appearing in Hello and extolling Simon's brilliance. And not to be outdone, Cole has popped up in OK to call Simon, "one of the smartest people I know." Still, when the people you know are the remaining Girls Aloud crew and Ashley's mates, that's hardly a glowing indictment.

Cowbell isn't the only one this week to be insulted by association. Despite demonstrating absolute X Factor dominance last year, the editors have seen fit to have me trading blows with that populist punk, Mike Norman. It's like asking Nijinsky to dance against Brian Friedman. Not Nijinsky the horse you understand. Anyway, demeaning as it may be, I'll acquiesce - in the spirit of inclusiveness at least.

Even with new contestants likely to join, both Matt Cardle ([5.1]) and Aiden Grimshaw ([11.0]) look value to win the thing overall, and I'll be having £70 on each. Of the remaining acts, Belle Amie ([30.0)] and FYD ([34.0]) look to have an outside chance - certainly much more so than the ludicrously short-priced One Direction ([6.4]) - and I'll be having £20 on each for an interest at big prices.

Cheryl Cole - hands tied or not - made terrible choices when selecting her final three and, even with the likely return of Treyc Cohen (no relation to Leonard), looks to rely solely on the nice-girl-but-seen-it-all-before Rebecca Ferguson. So I'm having £30 on at [7.0] for her to be the first mentor eliminated.

Given the uncertainties of week one (and given that Norman is already moaning about the absence of an elimination market when he had to write his piece), I won't be making any predictions about who will go on Saturday. Let's watch how they get on and take it from there.

Betting bank running total = £1,000.

This week's recommendations:
£70 Back Matt Cardle at [5.1] in Outright Market.
£70 Back Aiden Grimshaw at [11.0] in Outright Market.
£20 Back Belle Amie at [30.0] in Outright Market.
£20 Back FYD at [34.0] in Outright Market.
£30 Back Cheryl Cole at [7.0] in First Mentor Eliminated Market.

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