Monday 13 December 2010

Democracy and the X Factor


Apparently 20 million people watched Matt Cardle win the X Factor last night, with the 27 year old decorator beating Rebecca Ferguson and One Direction into 2nd and 3rd place. The result was probably not the one Cowell wanted, as he had made his support for One Direction quite clear. Is this then an example of the public's bloody-mindedness - particularly after the many allegations of poll manipulation this season? The inexplicably long tenure of Wagner (and Anne Widdecombe over on Strictly) presumably has something to do with this. Can any longer political trends be drawn? What lessons should Cameron, Clegg and Milliband be learning from this?

PS: Here is the Guardian's review of the final programme (described as a 2 hour chasm for the slow opening of an envelope...)

PPS: Here are some more detailed stats (and a graph!) on the X Factor voting week by week, if you're interested.

2 comments:

  1. Matt Cardle deserved to win, he had the best voice. The public probably voted this way as they recognised that One Direction, a teenage boyband with thousands of adoring girls chasing after them were going to be successful after X Factor whether or not they had won.

    I think that the whole Wagner and Ann Widdecombe thing is something that politicians should take account of. The majority of people were shocked and annoyed by their lingering presence but it does show the power of the minority and that those people should be taken account of.l

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  2. I think it's awful that more people vote on the X Factor than at the general election.
    You'd think that the electorate would have higher priorities really.

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