X Factor 2015 Week 5 Elimination Preview: The Lauren Conundrum

This week, Lauren Murray has seen her elimination price come sharply in and her outright price go the other way. Her treatment remains the most intriguing tonight, with a variety of possibilities. A reminder that the big picture is punters are assuming that producers might want to sideline Lauren as a way of leaving the path clear for Plan A Louisa Johnson. There was certainly a stark difference in the amount of thought and effort that went into the girls’ staging last week.

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If we work on the assumption that they’d prefer a final without Lauren, the potential problem for producers is that if Lauren finishes in the singoff this week but not right at the bottom of the vote, it would require one of her most vocal supporters, Grimmy, voting to send her home. Otherwise they’ll have a bounce to suppress next week. If that worries them, producers may feel more comfortable continuing with a gradual softening of Lauren instead, aiming for a singoff between the groups this week – then work with the survivor’s bounce in the semi, to get Lauren bottom then.

Much will of course depend on how well the four acts who haven’t yet touched a singoff have been polling. It does seem likely that Lauren will have polled well after her strong showings in weeks 2 and 3. Is it even conceivable that she might have outpolled Louisa last week, despite a low-key week for Lauren and every help for Louisa? The market understandably dismisses such a scenario, but the beautiful uncertainty of the X Factor is that we can’t know for sure until the stats are released. Fleur East never managed to top a phone vote, despite certain live shows being all about her.

This week’s song choices don’t look great for Lauren. With ‘Firestone’ and ‘You Don’t Own Me’, she’s got two less-known contemporary dance numbers that don’t promise to showcase vocals. The lyrics of the latter say: “And don’t tell me what to do / And don’t tell me what to say…/ Don’t try to change me in any way…/ Don’t tie me down cause I’d never stay.” We’ve been waiting for a Lauren VT about her not living in the XF house any more because she hates having cameras in her face all the time. This, followed by those ‘Firestone’ lyrics, could be how a serious deramping might occur. We’ll know more from 8pm tonight.

Fourth Impact remain elimination favourites tonight. The strength of their support is also a matter of intriguing uncertainty given their avoidance of a singoff so far. There were mixed messages in last week’s VT and staging. The first half of their VT played up the theme of missing home, but the second half with its message of “we’re doing this for our family” was very positive. The performance felt like the other way round: a promising backstage start followed by a rather unfocused section on the main stage, with Cowell complaining about a lack of individual identity afterwards.

A serious deramping for Fourth Impact might occur by playing up that theme of missing home, or indeed telling viewers that one of their chosen songs – ‘I’ll Be There’ – is something they’ve performed previously on a foreign talent show. These previous efforts are one back story that’s so far been downplayed, and it wouldn’t bode well for the girls if it was brought up now.

Last week saw a huge push for Reggie n Bollie. They got the pimp slot, another huge production, and were namechecked as finalists. The title of most favoured group has see-sawed throughout: in week 1, Fourth Impact were given top billing; week two saw the girls under the Strictly bus whilst the Ghanaian duo had the first of their massive productions late on; week 3 saw some rowing back on Reggie N Bollie, with a possible sympathy spike for 4th Impact after a dizzy Celina. The pendulum firmly swung back Reggie n Bollie’s way again last week, but it’s to producers’ credit that we’re still playing a guessing game between the two.

Further big productions have been promised for the Ghanaian duo this week on the revealing Xtra Factor midweek show. You could argue that ‘Watch Me’ strays into territory that doesn’t work so well with the X Factor demographic, but I don’t think those rules apply if the two are bringing a big fun production to the stage. Their other song, ‘Dynamite’, sits well in their comfort zone, but then so does the Fourth Impact medley of ‘Fancy’ and ‘Rich Girl’. It’ll be fascinating to see who feels most favoured tonight.

I’m more confident in thinking that producers will do everything for Ché Chesterman tonight, whatever his eventual fortunes in the contest. One of his song’s is this year’s biggest – Adele’s ‘Hello’ – for which Instagram rehearsal pics and Xtra Factor chatter suggests sympathetic staging. The production designer suggested the “kitchen sink” would be thrown at his other number, ‘Try A Little Tenderness’. Ché has been namechecked as a finalist; these pre-show clues suggest producer favour for this week at least.

Which brings us to Louisa Johnson, after her “moment” last week with outstanding staging. It’ll be interesting to see if producers feel relaxed enough to ease back on the throttle at this stage. ‘Love Yourself’ and ‘Jealous’ by Labrinth look like decent choices.

With only a five-minute Strictly overlap, those switching over shouldn’t be missing any singing. But when the live shows switch to two songs per act, fortunes have more opportunities to rise and fall. We’re looking forward to a topsy-turvy evening.

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203 comments to X Factor 2015 Week 5 Elimination Preview: The Lauren Conundrum

  • Jessica Hamby

    I love you Lauren. Sing your heart out. x

  • Martin

    Lauren’s song choices this week remind me a little bit of when Lauren Platt was given ‘Clarity’ and ‘Don’t You Worry Child’ the first week she was in the bottom two last year. Both decent songs, but not covering a broad enough taste range for the whole XF audience. ‘You Don’t Own Me’ is lyrically risky and not altogether that well known but it is a decent song, it could go down well. ‘Firestone’ was a big hit and is still played on daytime radio so may not be as unfamiliar. It is quite a powerful sounding song too. On paper, ‘One Last Time’ was relatively obscure (a lesser known Arianna Grande song rather than ‘Problem’ or ‘Break Free’) but she managed to pull it off. I’m not betting this week as I’m out, but I don’t see this as a nuking. Maybe her vote has been under control and she will fall into b2 naturally.

    Personally I think that Che is already damaged enough and doesn’t have enough crossover appeal to bounce to safety, I still think he’ll be b2 this week.

  • Rose

    I think you may have put your finger on it when you say that it’s to producers’ credit that we are still playing a guessing game between the groups in terms of which one has the backing of TPTB. The comparative status of the two groups is definitely confusing this year, and things are equally puzzling when it comes to Lauren – there are some very mixed messages being sent our way. It’s as if they all sat down at the start of the live shows and decided to push Louisa as far as possible while keeping everyone guessing about the rest of the field – particularly with those they want to do well, but have no real view as to whether they finish second, third or fourth (just so long as they don’t unseat Louisa). I’m looking forward to picking up clues in tonight’s show.

  • Boki

    Dear Che, hopefully you don’t get this version 😉
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emG3YhU9Efg

  • I’ve backed Lauren to go because 3.75 and 3.5 is too big…

    My initial thoughts were to back 4th Impact to go, but seeing as the price was and still is too short I’ve had to leave it.

    Think we get a 4th Impact v Lauren sing off, which goes to deadlock

  • Donald

    Playing catch up again, wil definiely revisit the sound productin stuff for you next Daniel, as I do know a “small bit” about it 🙂 like every trick in the book bit.. in fact tonight there are ten peformances so as an exersise I will do audio monitor on each one as well as overall show audio which they play with as well! and make notes which I will then tidy up and post early next week. Be good to do with two songs each act compare etc.

    First I got days of Sofabet to catch up.

  • Sagand

    It’s funny that looking back on past years very little seems to make a difference a this stage of the competition. People tend to stay at the level they are at, with the exception of bounces, partly because the treatment is already priced into the vote total. So the challenge becomes predicting the public more than the producers.

    Che I think is safe. I disagree that he is damaged. They played on complacency last week, early slot, strictly bus, song arrangement was different not bad. But you can’t make people complacent twice in a row. There’s no urgency to get rid of him so no need for a hatchet job.

    Louisa is safe, I don’t see any reason to believe they don’t have her ahead of the field.

    Leaving two of 4I, Lauren and RnB for the bottom two. I have doubts about all of their support.

    RnB are the joke act, and like most joke acts they only have one performance which is get a song with a Caribbean/ African vibe and chuck a load of costumed people on stage with tonnes of energy. We’ve seen it four times so far in the live shows with another four performances before the final (and potentially another four in the final) at some point it’ll wear thin.

    Lauren’s songs are both minor hits which may be nice enough but not enough for top three. ‘Firestone’ to be staged with fire? ‘You Don’t Own Me’ has a confrontational undertone to it, which isn’t great especially when paired with the negative media coverage she has (unfairly) received this week. If we think she was given ‘Licence To Kill’ as a deramp she must have been in a position to be in danger then and that was four eliminations ago.

    4I have the best songs, one delights the demo the other has mass appeal. There is a limit to how much support a foreign group gets from ‘Middle England’, they have always done badly on iTunes the only stat that isn’t biased from abroad.

    My prediction is bottom two of RnB and Lauren with Lauren going on deadlock. RnB to go next week to avoid two foreign groups in the final.

  • Curtis

    We should note as well in these two song setups that an act will often be mildly deramped in round 1 to set them up for a big moment in round 2. I recall that I placed money on Fleur to go after an underwhelming red-and-blacked “All I Want For Christmas Is You” in round 1 and of course in round 2 she did “Uptown Funk”. It’s something to bear in mind.

  • annie

    Well, neither of Laurens song previews sounds too promising….

  • Ben Cook

    I may change my tune after tonight, but I still believe they’d be happy for Lauren to make the final and even consider signing her. I don’t think it has to be her or Louisa – it can be both.

  • Ricky A

    What about Lauren and 4i in the bottom 2, going into deadlock with 4i getting thru? This is to capitalize on the supposed drama between Lauren and 4i.

    Backlash against 4i means they get the boot next week with Louisa, Che and R&B in the finals.

  • Blake

    I still don’t understand why they wouldn’t want 4th Impact in the final. They can perform, they are so likeable, and it would keep their fans interested. Plus they’re bound to be signed afterwards so would make sense, I just don’t get it. They are the commercial act this year.

  • George

    Louisa up first. Confident?

    • Chatterbox5200

      Can anyone remember the impact of going first, when the voting opens after all the acts have performed their first song? If I remember correctly, it’s not the disadvantage that it would be in a normal week, as if the second song is good, people may use up their votes before the final act has even performed their second song.

  • Piresistable

    Is it me or does this sound rubbish?

  • 360

    Grimmy saying he’s reminded of Louisa’s first audition almost sounds like an end of the journey comment. I don’t think she sounded great on that song. Almost sounded like her vocal was too loud for the backing track – the balance working against them?

  • Curtis

    In what way did that show the upbeat side to Louisa? Quite clearly Louisa’s worst performance of the live shows, but remember I said just now that a deramp can be followed by a strong round 2 (not to mention a change in running order, something they also did for Fleur last year). Then again, she did seem unwell, so maybe she’s not up to it.

  • Sagand

    Fleur must have appeared in more VTs than anyone else ever.

    • Fudd

      She’s in Reggie and Bollie’s as well.

      I swear she’s appearing more tonight then last year’s Quarter Final… and they were pimping her then!

  • Curtis

    4th Impact before RNB is not good news for them.

  • Fudd

    I almost feel like Louisa is being memory-holed 4th Impact here. If it wasn’t for the second song and potential bounce I’d be worried.

    Saying that Simon is still calling them A, B, C and D.

  • 360

    Not convinced by I’ll Be There either. Could have done with sticking to the melody a bit more.

  • stoney

    Just watching on catch up. I guess there saving louisas best performance til last then.

  • Curtis

    I enjoyed 4I’s performance – if they really wanted to they could have easily pushed it as a moment. Instead it was 2nd in the show and Simon distracted from it by calling the whistle-note one “B”. I don’t know precisely what it means, though I’m thinking perhaps their vote is actually very robust and so they don’t feel the need to pimp them.

    • George

      4th Impact is a tough one. If I had to guess, they’re threatening the top of the vote so are being given good performances though the producers don’t really want them to win.

    • annie

      Im pretty sure that if 4th Imp are topping the vote the system is cracked from the outside …)abroad votes) The question is if tptb will do anything about it.

  • Blake

    Doing the whistle note was a mistake. Rita coming back to it will make that stand out too. Interested to see their second song.

  • Piresistable

    Do you think they could need Louisa in the bottom 2 two bounce her into the final?

  • George

    No judge dancing this week for Reggie and Bollie.

    Edit: though they got their kids and Cheryl!

  • Fudd

    The kids and Cheryl dancing with them…

    There are no words.

  • Donald

    All the link dynamic chaged with Ollie etc..

  • Fudd

    Lauren moaning about the public’s song choice?

    The bus’ engine has been switched on.

  • George

    How they wish Louisa had Lauren’s personality!

  • Sagand

    Donut deramp shoutout

    Saying that this is really good.

  • Rose

    I think Cheryl made it pretty clear which of her two groups she prefers….and RnB went down a storm in the studio. They couldn’t have been given more help really. They have memory-holed 4I with that performance.

  • Fudd

    She’s got Louisa’s plinth from last week except she’s right in front of the backing screen. Head into the light, Lauren. Head into the light…

    I suppose they haven’t sent her up in fire. They could have done that with the song.

  • Piresistable

    Shouldn’t they warn viewers about strobe lighting?

  • Curtis

    They sent her up to Louisaland! Controversial move.

  • Chatterbox5200

    Is Lauren singing at the entrance to a black hole?
    It looks like the staging for Louisa last week, except Lauren is buried in an underground tunnel, while Louisa was on a cloud soaring above everyone else.

    In the VT – Lauren slating the public saying that that she didn’t even know the song, singing karaoke and DONUTS!!

  • Martin

    Lauren’s staging made her look like she was falling into a black hole.

    🙁

  • Martin

    OLLY – lauren was on fire?!!!!!

  • Fudd

    I sense the bus is moving for Lauren but will they apply the accelerator or brake with the second performance?

  • stoney

    That was a louisa style pimping for rnb tonight!
    Also have tptb been injecting Laurens dinner with extra carbs and sugar i wonder?

    • Martin

      A bit shady but this week is the first week since the show started that her shoulders and arms weren’t covered. She didn’t look entirely comfortable. Manipulation is in the styling too.

  • Rose

    That seemed very harsh towards Lauren and it came across all too strongly that she didn’t like the song – she just did the best with what she was given. When Caroline Flack suggested the best thing she could do was sing a second song, that came across as incredibly damning of her first performance. It isn’t looking good for her.

    • Ben Cook

      Yeah I’m really confused after that. I thought the VT was mostly positive (yes she wasn’t sure about the song but changed her mind at the end, and overall she came across well). I thought the staging was great and suited the song (though some people say black hole) and she sounded stunning.. but then the really unfair comments.

  • Donald

    Hard to put Lauren down a black hole, she sings her way out of it. Simon clever no metion of vocal performance but critise song. I think night for extreme caution yet. Brakes on the app votes, technical difficulties…

  • Martin

    Lauren popping up in Che’s VT? Surely another contestant was available to comment on his b2 situation?

  • Curtis

    Oh my word, I thought Ché had put on a lot of weight very quick! Realised he was holding a cushion.

  • annie

    I didnt think it was that bad. It was like all the johnlewisications Louisa and Ella H. have been praised over the top for ….

  • George

    This is a really weird arrangement though. I felt like he forgot the words?

  • Martin

    Oh man, I actually feel bad for Che for that.

  • Fudd

    He’s got the bounce to help him but I swear Che forgot the lyrics there.

  • Donald

    He forgot the words…

  • Blake

    “Goodness knows how the vote ends up the way it does” Oh Cheryl.

  • Rose

    Ouch- Rita. Cheryl and Simon have savaged Che. They are not going with the bounce, I really worry for him. He looks really sad. Simon’s comment on his style was vicious.

    • Fudd

      Rita’s “you basically made up your own melody” must have been one of the best kill-with-kindness comments ever. She could have said “you were out of tune” but that may have generated some sympathy…

  • Alison cassells

    Message recieved “che’s struggling” poor guy, no doubt who’s under this weeks bus

  • George

    Louisa has been really memory holed by everyone who followed her.

  • Curtis

    In fairness to him, I wasn’t watching, only listening, and I didn’t cotton on to the fact he forgot his words. It just sounded like a weird arrangement.

    Still, it just didn’t really match up to Adele when he found the song in the chorus, not the moment he was looking for in any sense. And scathing comments by Cowell.

  • Martin

    I did warn you all about this bounce 😉 I feel really sorry for Che, he covered it well but that song is massive, who doesn’t know the words to it?!

    • Sagand

      Tamara bounced more on weeks where she forgot her lyrics. The whole VT was focused on how he is in danger, he’s still as safe as houses.

      • Martin

        Yeah you’re right. I don’t think it was highlighted enough to generate sympathy though, rather that he was a bit down so he didn’t bother learning his words. Second song is everything for Che, and fortunately it plays to his strengths.

  • Fudd

    Simon’s order:
    1. Reggie and Bollie
    2. Louisa
    3. 4th Compact
    4. Lauren
    5. Che

  • George

    Simon spelling out to the public who the bottom two should be!

  • Donald

    Nick doing Che no favours with comments related to Simon trousers. Bet producers getting two buses when Simon nicks out for his quick ciggie.

    • Chatterbox5200

      Simon’s face after Nick’s comment about high waisted trousers, etc. was a picture. Definitely don’t think that was on his script.

  • 360

    Che may have been set up to fall anyway even without the word fumble, given that the cage of light made an appearance.

  • stoney

    Everyone knows it’s the 2nd song that really counts. Get ready for another 4 way SO from judges for st louisa

  • Curtis

    Curtis’ order: (superior to Simon’s)
    1. 4th Impact
    2. Lauren
    3. Louisa
    4. Ché
    5. Reggie N Bollie

    Everyone seriously needs to up their game

  • Donald

    Two groups in final,? lots more money in groups post show, Lauren vocal well decent, could save here if voting tight, speaking of vocal audio mixes, Louisa done no favours first song, let’s see what they do with next one.

  • Jessica Hamby

    A small point – donuts are not in themselves a deramp. The point about Andrea was that he was shown eating, usually messily and in an offputting way, VT after VT. Like red and black, the description is simple but the effect is more nuanced.

    Having said that, I can’t see the show from here but reading your descriptions it sounds like they want Lauren out.

  • Rose

    We didn’t really need Simon to spell it out, Lauren and Che were clearly the ones “struggling” this evening though Louisa wasn’t great either – that song is a bit of a nonentity to me, very bland with no interesting melody (though my 14-year-old son would disagree). At least Louisa was given the excuse of being ill and that came out in such an obvious set-up after her performance. Let’s see what the second songs bring, but there’s going to have to be a huge turnaround, IMO, to keep Che and Lauren off the bottom tonight.

  • Fudd

    4th Impact now ahead of Louisa in the performance order.

  • Plinkiplonk

    Quick prediction for a massive redemption performance from Louisa – real or talked up. I would say she was put on first precisely so that first performance would be forgotten. Oh look, a running order change, too…

  • James

    WillHill just paid out on their 2-1 ‘any contestant to forget their words during a live performance’ bet, thanks to Che.

  • Rose

    4I are reminding me so much of This is Spinal Tap – what happens if one of their boxes fails to open?

  • Fudd

    Two judge standing ovation for 4th Impact (Cheryl and Simon). “SIMON! REMEMBER MY NAME!” near the end wasn’t subtle at all…

  • Curtis

    More mixed signals for 4th Impact. Clearly Simon calling them ABCD was set up for this, but at the same time they were bumped back in the running order and the performance was a little rubbish.

  • Martin

    Very inspired from the coffins a few years back, reminds me of that! Good performance from 4I, bit of a journey’s end feel from Simons comments with the names?

  • Fudd

    Che performing fifth and seventh???

  • Plinkiplonk

    Yeah, sure, with his background he doesn’t know “Try a little tenderness” ?

  • Curtis

    zomg that change in running order for Ché.

  • Edie M

    Watching on plus+1- this is my fave performance of Louisa’s even though her vocal is a bit scratchy but at least it’s a bit less contrived.

  • Fudd

    Black and white checks on the screen behind Che… like the flags which finish Formula One races.

    The end. It’s over.

    Four Judge standing ovation but to quell a sympathy vote? Or am I going down the rabbit hole? 😀

  • Martin

    Wow, that vt was awful for Che. Think back to Paul Akister’s performance of this last year when they were still interested in him. That was decent, this feels flat. Che is still under that bus.

  • Martin

    Nick is well rubbing simon up the wrong way this evening.

  • Rose

    First time I have heard Che out of tune for a few seconds….but I think the message to take home from tonight is that Che is ok with the old songs but anything current will end badly – which is damning for his perceived chances as a contemporary artist.

  • Donald

    Pimp slot for Louisa ! And two kitchens of pimping, Judges camp is well split down the middle.

  • Fudd

    Lauren and Louisa seemingly next so Reggie and Bollie in the pimp slot?

  • Donald

    The RandB getting pimp slot, this show going mad, maybe Simon wants a US fun urban act…

  • Rose

    Omg Louisa’s not back in white, as I expected, but in an amazing glittery silver costume – says star all over. She looks absolutely stunning.

  • stoney

    Reggie and Bollie clearly not polling as well as they would like. They have been far and away the most pimped in terms of running order. And having Cheryl dance with them and there sons on stage was another level stuff. Be interesting when the stats come out. I think we’ll find they were just escaping the singg off the last few weeks, maybe longer

    • Fudd

      But why not let them drop to the bottom two tonight and bounce them to the final? Why seemingly fight hard to keep them outside the bottom two?

      Unless someone who they like is even more at risk and they don’t want a Reggie and Bollie v X (Louisa?) bottom two.

  • Plinkiplonk

    Whoever put Lauren in that pink atrocity needs to be taken outside and never be let in again…

  • stoney

    Keep them out tonight then put them through in next week’s sing off. No difference really

  • David Cook

    Have I lost the plot. Che was awful. It was out of tune. OTT pimping for that. What’s going on.

  • Plinkiplonk

    Oh look, Lauren’s a hooker. Subtle, X Factor. Real subtle…

    Ok, or she’s the third member of 2 Shoes – don’t know what’s more damaging…

  • Fudd

    She’s on a hotel balcony in a dated dress singing an ‘up yours’ song. And she’s completely lost in the long shots.

  • Donald

    Lauren in the zone here..

  • Rose

    I think they have made Lauren look like a prostitute on a street corner….the difference between her look and Louisa’s, from what I could make out earlier, says the world. Lauren sounds amazing, but I don’t think it looks at all appealing.

  • Donald

    If I was Adele I’d say maybe Lauren for final, the girls got pipes..

  • Fudd

    So Reggie and Bollie are before Louisa then. Not quite what they proposed before the break but oh well.

  • Plinkiplonk

    Bloody hell. Louisa bookends the show. who’d have thought it, the mother of all pimpings, yet again.

  • Fudd

    Fuse ODG could be the celebrity ‘duet’ partner for Reggie and Bollie in the final then.

  • I have a feeling that Che will be having another fry-up with his Dad on the way home tonight in a deserted Motorway truck-stop ‘again’. The awful white stripe on his jacket says that he is a marked man who has just been run over by ‘the X-Factor bus’ (but in negative print, as was his staging). Even I can sing out of tune better than that…ouch!!

  • Curtis

    Lauren went out after that performance…I went in for Lauren to be eliminated during it…

    Ahh well, live by the sword, die by the sword.

  • Martin

    Am I the only one thinking positives for Lauren? Simons comments were next level.

  • Ben Cook

    Weird mixed messages on Lauren again. It was a slightly seedy background, and I’d have preferred her to walk down on to the stage halfway through, but really positive comments, the song was absolutely perfect for her, and she nailed it. And they kept going on about her being an artist.

  • Donald

    They put Louisa on first to get her O1 on the vote and app, now pimp slot,, held the app vote early… they are pimpimg living daylights out of last two here now to get either get them top or keep them in.

  • Fudd

    It’s the Colour Vomit/Red and Black combo for Reggie & Bollie again this week. Not quite as pleasant on the eye as Shut Up and Dance IMO.

  • stoney

    I hope non louisa backers jumped on the 8/13 that was briefly available after her first performance. Long gone after this next song

  • Curtis

    Massive rush clearly for judges comments there! Made Rita’s negativity feel a bit weird in all of that positivity!

  • EM

    Here’s a thought – is Lauren another Sam Bailey?

  • Plinkiplonk

    The whole R ‘n B thing is just getting really tiresome. And the comments are just laughable. “You are credible artist” – yeah, like any drunken guy on a night down the Karaoke is an artist. Pathetic, they really have no shame…

  • David Cook

    Can Lauren save herself – great vocal performance. Way ahead of Che or 4I.

  • George

    I’m not sure what it says that they’re still feeling the need to pimp Louisa so hard.

  • annie

    Well, I dont know what kind of miracle can save Lauren tomorrow.
    I dont think her first song was bad, but she got bashed for it, but at least she looked great and had competent staging.
    This second one was praised but she looked awfull and the whole performance was made into cabaret.
    Whats worst is that I think they will manage to get her along Che, which means she surely looses the vote from her consistent fan Nick.

    I would say she should pack her bags… But then I remember she already moved home weeks ago. Too bad.
    She could have done well in a fairer world.

  • Donald

    They got their moment here, Stoney closer to collecting reckon,

  • Curtis

    If there’s one thing that’s actually true, it’s that Louisa is ill…

  • David Cook

    I must have lost the plot. R&B shocking – yet more OTT praise. Is it some kind of bad joke.

  • Rose

    Pass me the sick bucket please. I did wonder how they could follow last week’s super pimping, but here they are, showing us they can do it shamelessly.

  • Donald

    Worrying words from Rita there “whatever happens in this competition”

    • stoney

      Lol i spose if non louisa backers are going to pick holes in something looking for a negative then that’s as good as it’s going to get. Im not worried

  • Donald

    Think the old black and white televisions could make the classic deramp list.

  • Curtis

    I’m absolutely clueless, I think my money is on the wrong horse to go (Lauren), so tomorrow is going to be about minimising losses!

  • Chelsea

    I’m watching on +1 so apologies for being behind but what the hell happened after Lauren’s first performance? Her awkwardly not knowing where to leave the stage and darkness for about 30 seconds. Really odd. TPTB are really gunning for her this week it seems, especially with the largely unknown song choice and her coming across as ungrateful in the edit for not being entirely receptive to it, even though most contestants would rightfully react in the same vein.

  • stoney

    My mum who last year loved Ben haenow and also loved James Arthur both to my disgust is backing Louisa this year. A good omen for me 🙂

  • the maestro

    1-2 louisa do me a favour im a pro gambler and have won and lost big and that is one off the worst prices i have ever seen. U can tell they are allready preparing plan b they is no way she is polling well ive said this time and time again she has not got the likeability factor she will not win

    • stoney

      Thank god i didn’t take your 4/1 on Lauren. Thanks but no thanks

      • Ferret

        Trouble is Stoney.. Do you ever collect? Or is life a series of very near misses?

        You should have cashed out on Louisa by now and reinvested your winnings.

        Instead all we seem to see is confirmation bias postings from you.

        Remember that this is a betting site where we discuss ways of profiteering. With bet fair offering lay options, plus hedging opportunities on other candidates freely available, simply backing one option and blindly sticking to it, ignoring all of the profit taking opportunities, is a little naive to be honest.

        At the end if the day it is not about being ‘right’ it is about making money.

        I am in three figures of profit no matter who wins the competition… I’m already reinvesting on other events like IAC.

        This post is not having a go at you.. Just trying to help you profit.

        Why worry about whether Louisa will win or lose when you can profit regardless.

        All the best m8

        • stoney

          Thats a fair comment. And in answer no most of the time I see my bets out and cover in emergencies. What you do would take the fun and buzz out of it for me. The fun and buzz that i don’t get out of my full time job. If i was a pro gambler or relied on it for my main income then i would adapt a totally different philosophy

          • Ferret

            And that’s a decent response tbh… If it is all for fun and enjoyment (and the staking levels are sensible) then go for it m8.

    • Curtis

      ok, but you have to propose an alternative for who actually will win.

      • Chelsea

        R&B? It’s possible, the audience go crazy for them every week.

      • Actually, as much as his comment is a load of playing billy big bo…., he doesn’t, cos this is a betting site and he has implied that you should lay the 1.50.

        • Curtis

          I know that of course, but my point is that to conceive of the possibility of Louisa losing, you have to at least think one (or more) of the others are viable winners. I personally see none of the other 4 as possible winners, and therefore Louisa surely has to win in my mind.

          • Jessica Hamby

            And you realise how dangerous that attitude is for Louisa, right? Everyone thinks that. It’s so obvious she’s being favoured that everyone watching the show knows it and hears the unfair criticism and sees the second rate styling. Why should they bother vote for Louisa? She’s gonna win anyway. They’ve got free votes, might as well give them to someone else who they liked.

            We thought Fleur was nailed on. I think Lauren can win this. FI are a bit too dependent on tptb but Che can if he gets his vocal right and so can FI. Tptb don’t decide who wins, the public do.

          • Jessica Hamby

            Correction to the post above:

            I meant R&B are a bit too dependent on tptb.

  • stoney

    He already told everyone to put the house on Lauren at 4/1 called it the bet of the year lol

  • Blake

    Well either Lauren or 4th Impact have been topping the vote. And whichever is not is going tomorrow. I’m not sure Louisa has got this wrapped up yet either. A confusing night all round.

  • annie

    It’s weird with Louisa.

    All , songs, staging, praise, styling, seems to be set up for her to have ‘moments’ yet somehow something is always lacking…
    The moments don’t really fully happen.

    And I actually love Lauren’t Kygo Firestone. Listeting on repeat.

  • mb79493

    This was a really weird night for me, I have no clue what’s going on anymore.

    Louisa seems the default winner, but something about the praise she gets rings alarm bells for me. RnB can’t win (I refuse to accept this as a possibility), Che seems not to have taken off, they seem to think Lauren is in their sights… could 4I win?

  • Jessica Hamby

    The DS forum is full of Lauren haters. A lot of them saying she was the best tonight and they will be voting for her.

    • Curtis

      But I think we know by now that DS is simply not a good representation of the show’s viewership. I have to stick to the basic principles – and we know that hookerising female acts is a deramp technique. It was premature of me to bet on Lauren to go, and she could very well avoid B2 tomorrow but this was definitely a deramp tonight for Lauren.

    • Edie M

      Her second vocal was incredible (awful styling & visuals though).

  • My god, what a confusing show. If any show ever demanded a sober Sunday re-watch, this is it. Don’t ask me what happens between now and then, but I think the Final 2 on Sunday 13th December is likely to be Louisa Johnson and 4th Impact.

  • mb79493

    My prediction: Louisa vs Che, I don’t know who will leave but I’m gonna go out on a limb and say Louisa.

    Attack me, everyone.

  • Donald

    They even styled Louisa haiir Lauren Platt esque from last year tonight. I am the last onel on here to begrudge anyone a win, especially for Stoney but it doesn’t all sit right. Maybe 4I and Lauren are actually running away with this. Wouldnt surprise me one bit. Sleeping on this might be sensible. Che looks in danger.

  • the maestro

    What a arogent man you are stoney all im doing on here is giving my opion are you the one that backed fleaur east and refused to lay it off at massive odds you are the nearly man i won massive on leona lewis 7-1 fact a burke 5-1fact j macelldry 9-1 fact and the best ov all hae now hae now dont dream its over 4-1 fact and then again in the final at big money at 4-5 fact im not saying u havnt got a good bet at whatever odds you got all im saying in my post is 1_2 is a dreadfull price if i had anyting above evs id be laying it off sorry for the rant just get pissed off when trying to give advice and get slagged off

  • Edie M

    1st week where I’ve felt a bit bored by RnB

  • Ben Cook

    Lauren seems to be fastest mover on the odds – up from 4th to 2nd. Confusing treatment tonight, but IMHO she smashed both performances. Grace’s version of You Don’t Own Me has jumped up into the iTunes top 5 which is a good sign.

    • annie

      And hers is already 41. no one else even close.

      • Jessica Hamby

        That’s my girl. 😀

        Lauren, I heart you.

        • Jack

          I have to say Jessica, also being a Lauren fan, this site just wouldn’t be the same without you championing her! Really hope she survives this week – You Don’t Own Me was fab.

          • Jessica Hamby

            Thanks Jack. I’ve hardly been posting this week after some of the things that have been said but probably like everyone else, I find it hard to resist. Mostly though I’ve been keeping my thoughts to myself.

            I’m looking forward to seeing the show tomorrow if I can. From the sound of things Grimmy might be working his way off my list while Scowell continued to talk a load of http://youtu.be/Cy4-snbDcIM

          • Jack

            Oh me too. I haven’t even looked at Twitter for fear of seeing the disgusting things that may be written about her but it seems forgotten now (I say in hope). Embarrassingly, I’m going to see the Tour next year with a couple of others and she’s the main reason why.

          • Jessica Hamby

            I’ve never been to the tour but if I do, she (and Che) will be the reason why.

            Maybe I will this year. I haven’t done the fangirl thing for anyone for a while but I’ve got it quite bad this time.

      • annie

        and firestone in her and original version is climbing as well….
        oh lauren. they might dress you in a christmas tree candy wrapper, but they can’t take your talent away from you.

      • Boki

        Louisa is close with Jealous (just for the record).

  • Reggie and Bollie red and black, colour vomit, Sam Callahan crazy lighting, strong end of journey comments. Explicitly characterised by judges as credible and no longer the underdog. Will be surprised if they don’t go tomorrow. Vocals aren’t there, and no novelty act has made it past 5th.

    • Curtis

      And with that comment, I believe that makes it the first night I remember – certainly with as many as 5 contestants left – where every single one of them has been predicted by someone in Sofabet comments to be eliminated.

      I’ve also seen every act except for Ché being pushed for the win too. Is it fair to say the producers won tonight?

    • Jack

      Also think that RnB’s schtick is wearing thin. Producers did the best that they could for them but the continual positive treatment doesn’t bode well for their suggested vote tallying. My prediction is Reggie n Bollie and Che B2. Bouncing hasn’t proved reliable this series.

      • Alan

        Wearing thin? Dancehall cheese. Ok they have been fun compared to a lot of the dross this series but Jesus what a load of garbage they are. No talent whatsoever.

  • George

    Lauren and 4th Impact clearly aren’t producer favourites but they aren’t being attacked either. Suggests that their vote is resilient?

  • Alan

    If we assume that 4I are going to get signed then you’d have to question why they don’t get pimped. The only reason I can think of is that they are doing really well in the vote and TPTB want to try and keep them in check.

    If they were going to get signed and were struggling in the vote wouldnt Cowell be calling them a world class act and pimping them to the high heavens to try to get them as far as possible?

    Maybe Cowell has got no interest in signing them but if that’s the case you kind of wonder what their point was in the first place. Maybe they have only ever been about making good TV. Same as Seann Miley Moore.

    If I was Cowell Id try to get them to the final and then sign them. They’re worth a punt. He doesnt seem to be trying to get them to the final though. Is this cos he doesnt have to try? I think it’s a possibility.

  • Pete

    I think that in fairness TPTB have done a pretty good job so far. Considering all the double eliminations due to the contracted series, and aside from the very clear plan A, everybody seems a bit confused as to their intentions towards the remaining acts. Cases can be made both for reaching the final AND being B2 or eliminated this week for all four other acts.
    Given that we will never get an even playing field, is this the next best thing we can hope for? Keep you guessing every week, bring back some of the interest that maybe the show has been missing the last few seasons? At the very least showing a bit more subtlety as to their intentions would never be a bad thing.

  • Cyril

    It’s pretty simple Blake ’cause they are not British.

  • The juan

    Last night was an odd one…wasn’t it?

    Let’s look at the acts (although most
    Of this has been touched on already)

    Louisa – on first with an obvious throat pinch for the cameras. The bandana takes us back to her first audition. On last for the second song… I thought she looked a bit rough. The vt with her friend was not overly positive and she was performing on the mini stage to the left of the judges.
    I thought it felt a little ‘end of a journey’ with the positive comments (confirmation bias). Although a point to note was her appearing with her mother in sugar hut (Essex)… This could be an attempt to tap into the “essex” vote (or a vote transfer) which could be holding Lauren up near the top. Last week West Ham… This week Essex, haha.

    Fourth impact – good ballad, Rita pointing out the not great whistle note and comments about the Philippines aren’t great, I think they’ve been softened up and are going next week. The second song was good and showed 2 sides to their performance.

    Che – poor vt and he Adele song was far to big, felt sorry for him and the bars of light, similar to the prison staging from previous series. Try a little tenderness wasn’t great, more of the same without improvement. Bottom 2 this week.

    Reggie and bollie – any idea why Cheryl was joining in on the desk, how choreographed was that..? The second song lacked production and started to show off the non existent vocal tptb had joked about in the titanic vt previously

    Lauren – ok, I’m a little bias. Great vocal on both songs, avoided the pitfalls of the second song with the potential to shout. The staging was awful for both of her songs and was the strongest from tptb. Here’s the type of artist you will be (prostitute outside sleazy hotel) do you like this artist then vote for her! Who will vote for a prostitute and the red heels?
    Anyway, I think she smashed it. Let’s get some sympathy votes in for the obvious crap staging.
    If she does fall in the bottom 2, then all along the panel have said that it has to be judged on the vocal and the sing off alone. The only competition is Louisa and I think, based on vocal alone, she wins.

    Bottom 2 this week is a tough one, they have to be careful of the bounce… So, I say che v Louisa.

    I think that the final will be Louisa, Lauren and r & b.

    Come on Lauren!!!!!

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