What's sad for such people is the sheer devastation that the cynical media orchestration of their 'highs and lows' brings about. These people beg on bended knees while wailing their eyes out if they don't get 'just another chance'. And Cowell sits there like some smugly indulgent Pontius Pilot, musing on who's going to be executed. It's quite disturbing at a level, and will surely end up resulting in some fragile individual topping themselves (wonder how old Sue Boyle is doing now after going a wee bit bonkers?)

Not quite sure how we've come to the point of the current generation of kids being brainwashed into believing that unless they get a massive break by winning the X Factor, there is no hope for them in music, but such productions have such a high profile that they take on a religious like power - appearing to be the sole opportunity for 'Salvation' to people who are clearly utterly desperate to change their world.