Alan,

I hope she finds happiness in whatever she does and I wish her luck in the competition.

I didn't say whether or not I thought it was a set up, I have been ignoring that discussion and remain uninterested in it.

I do think however that the reason she was put through and featured so heavily in the TV show (when as you say thousands entered) was because of her marketability,

Her marketability is based on her media personality - a shallow construct based on her appearance and her place of origin.

Media personality is the key to all popular performers nowadays.

Everyone thinks they 'know' kylie - we have a soft spot for her regardless of her talent as a singer. This comes from our affection for Charlene from Neighbours.

Robbie Williams appeal again was based on his fans collective illusion that they knew him - they knew when he meant it and when he was taking the piss.

Reality TV shows like the X factor and BGT allow a media personality to be cultivated and sold. The decision about who to market and who to put through to the finals is made straight after the auditions and those people are followed by the cameras from day 1 till the final when we the public have to decide which one we like the best.

The other Yesses are ignored and filtered out slowly but surely, leaving us wwith the illusion that "our" favourites have made it ... "YESSSS!!!!" ......

Susan Boyle is all about the hype. The touching story, and its west end musical soundtrack and moments of triumph, despair and shared anticipation and nerves is all completely and deliberately contrived.

If this was a talent show in your church hall, local community centre, song circle, session or open mic night, she would get polite applause and little else.

Watching Simon Cowell go on - weeks later - about how he wants to apologise for thinking that she was a joke when he first saw her cos she looks so awful etc was about the most nauseating bit of emotional engineering I have witnessed outside hollywood.

Guys, the empress isn't wearing any new clothes.

Thankfully she kept the old ones on.