X Factor 2015 Final: Ché Rodded

Ché Chesterman departs the X Factor in third position, after a night of the expected full-on pimping for Louisa Johnson. Before the announcement of who was leaving, the betting markets had put even more distance between the three acts, Louisa shortening and Ché drifting.

final-saturday-che

We’d wondered how they’d fit in three songs each tonight. We learnt when one round of the songs announced yesterday proved to be merely a glorified introductory sequence, an opening prelude to the musical symphony ahead. When the songs proper started, Che was first up with ‘Valerie’. He was shown drumming up support after a tearful family homecoming, then visiting his former school before performing at the Royal Albert Hall. It wasn’t a bad VT – when the crowds were shown, they were decent and enthusiastic.

Fortunately he’d changed the unflattering shirt he wore in the introduction for his performance of ‘Valerie’. As promised, there was a 50s Americana diner theme, with high-energy dancing and the promised hamburgers. The staging didn’t feel quite as messy as we have seen sometimes for the outsider’s opening number, but the “Che’s Diner” visual was hardly a subliminal that suggested a glittering future career.

Rita didn’t have anything more to say than “congratulations for making it so far”. Cheryl praised Ché’s vocals before calling him “dolphin boy”, which reminded us that Nick had joked about “dolphins arriving at Wembley” about a high note in 4th Impact’s performance the week they went home. Do we have a new tactic – the dolphin deramp?

Simon picked up on the hamburgers, criticising the production – a time-honoured tactic to justify a negative tone without motivating sympathy votes – by saying it looked like a “musical”, and calling him the “underdog to win the competition”. He went on to call Ché “a bag of nerves”, in a surprisingly negative tone for the final. The clear sense was that they weren’t taking any chances.

Reggie N Bollie were shown waving to individuals from their battle bus in Cheryl’s home town of Newcastle; Cheryl hadn’t bothered to go there with them, and didn’t give us a reason for it, saying only “while I stay here to drum up support”. They got to show their energy at a gig there. Cheryl did join them in Farnborough, and again it wasn’t a bad VT for them – the bongo drums weren’t as much in evidence as they could have been.

They came through some large RnB initials for a reggae ‘Spice Up Your Life’ with a huge number of dancers on stage and off-stage, before the sirens went off for ‘Boom Boom Boom’. It was rather chaotic, but we didn’t expect anything else.

Simon came out with one of his ostensibly off-the-cuff lines that we assume is intended to have a subliminal effect on viewers, using the analogy “like a strawberry and liver milkshake” to describe the choice of songs for mashup. Yum! Simon also said: “I’m so happy you’re here with the energy you bring … I have a feeling you could actually win this show.” We assume the intention was to make viewers think “no, surely not, they can’t sing! Better vote for someone who can”.

Nick, like Simon, referred to the amazing reaction in the arena. Rita was the party-pooper who called it “cruiseship” and a “shouting competition”. Cheryl only replied, “I want to go to whichever cruiseships you go to.” Caroline repeated the “cruiseship” and “you could win this competition” lines.

Louisa and Rita, styled like sisters, then visited the former’s family and friends in Essex. “We have to make sure she wins,” her Dad said. She visited her primary school and Rita drummed up support for more votes.

We’d talked about the angelic connotations around Louisa in our review of her journey, and they ramped it up, having her again all in white and in amongst the clouds with a vast, white-clad celestial choir. The darkened arena was lit up by audience glowsticks. Simon made the “angel” theme explicit in his comments, with Rita later claiming she was “literally floating” before calling her “an actual angel”.

Grimmy made us laugh by wryly remarking “they love putting you in a cloud, don’t they”, before talking about her desire to win. We were getting worried that they wouldn’t refer to it as a “moment”, before Rita rectified that. Cheryl ticked the “17 years old” box, then Louisa said, “I tried to put every bit of emotion into it.” If you were playing a Louisa drinking game, you’d have been under the table.

Olly said to Louisa “can you believe that thousands and thousands of people applied for this show”, a thought which Ferret in the comments completed with “and none of them had any chance whatsoever as you were invited!”

Onto the duets, each of which were preceded by similar VTs featuring the acts bonding with mentors and families. Ché kicked things off with Cat Stevens’ golden oldie ‘The First Cut is the Deepest’, with a rather generic breaking-glass backdrop. When Rod Stewart came on there wasn’t much chemistry between them. It was pleasant enough, and utterly lacking in impact. The vibe was a wedding karaoke between a slightly reluctant uncle and nephew, and Rod couldn’t wait to get off stage.

For the second time tonight, Ché was memoryholed by Reggie N Bollie following directly afterwards with no ad break. They got two duets for the price of one, opening with Fuse ODG before Craig David made his entrance to ‘Rewind’. The dancers, clad in red, stayed off stage, and there was a lot of rapping. In true RnB fashion, it was messy but fun and got a big audience reaction.

Louisa and Rita sang X Factor staple ‘And I Am Telling You’, which Sam Bailey had belted out with Nicole Sherzinger as their 2013 final duet before the former’s victory, and which Louisa had sung once already, at the six-chair challenge. Louisa was in green this time, and everything else was golden – Rita, the staging and lighting.

final-saturday-main

The following reprise was a technical nightmare, as the song repeated over Che’s first performance, before producers cut it altogether. But while they may have messed up the recap, it looks like the bigger plan is well on track. Since the voting statistics were first released in 2008, the leader at the vote freeze on Saturday has gone on to win on Sunday. Do you doubt that it’s Louisa? Let us know below.

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186 comments to X Factor 2015 Final: Ché Rodded

  • mb79493

    The way they literally recreated her Week 4 staging with a different podium killed me.

  • Got greens on both the final two so good times.

  • Tpfkar

    Looks like they are in the home straight. As stoney has said, no vote leak indicates that Louisa has had this in the bag for some time.

  • Lia

    zzzzzzz… Glad I’m not watching. Decided it’s 4 hours of my life I’ll never get back. Reading it here is more fun and quicker. Thanks!

  • Blake

    I think they really need to get rid of the sing off before the final. It’d be far more interesting to go into the final not knowing which of the 3 was actually going to leave first.

  • Donald

    Notice apps votes not really pushed tonight. Safe phone vote emphasis. Looking forward to seeing what seasons votes were.

  • Rose

    I had problems voting on the app last night. My phone was working fine but the Ipad kept telling me the vote wasn’t open when it still was. Despite several reboots, I remained unable to vote on it until Che had gone out. Wonder if it was just me?

    • Blake

      This happened to me too. Though the other way round. After voting RnB in the first vote it wouldn’t let me vote again after they’d reopened, until I rebooted my phone.

      Wonder how many people may have given up when it said the vote wasn’t open.

  • fused

    I kind of had mixed feelings, in that overall I thought Louisa was the best, but the performance I enjoyed the most was Reggie n Bollie’s second one with Fuse ODG and Craaaaiiiiiiig David, and the one I found the most likeable was Che.

    What I’m most interested in with the voting statistics is how long Louisa and Reggie n Bollie have been the top 2. I don’t think either has from the beginning onwards, I think it’s more likely they both climbed over the weeks. But I guess we’ll see.

    • stoney

      No figures mentioned and goes on to say they would need a spectacular performance to pip Louisa to the post. Not quite what youd expect from an act that had dominated the vote up until now.
      This leak is doing nothing for the market.

      • Alan

        Exactly the kind of article that tells you to never trust The Star. Based on absolutely nothing and solely there to fullfill the need to write something about the show.

  • Keen Observer

    Tellymix poll currently 873 (55%) Louisa vs 721 RnB so Louisa should have done enough, but that’s probably a bit closer than I expected.

    • David Cook

      Close but I think Tellymix will overestimate support for R&B compared to votes from the general XF viewer. Can’t see R&B picking up over 50% of the vote even if it was neck and neck last night. For what it’s worth I would expect Louisa to be ahead after last night so R&B needing something in excess of 50% today.

  • Martin

    https://twitter.com/louisa/status/675986539088912384

    The shade of it.

    ‘Dominated the vote every week’ – it doesn’t say that they have been first or second, does it? Not even that they’ve beat Louisa. Just a general way of saying they’ve done alright so far, but for gods sake don’t let them win.

  • Johua

    Dominated suggests to me that they top the vote. Don’t see how it can be read any different to be honest

    • mb79493

      I don’t really read much into that, just another way to make sure she wins. Maybe it’s closer than they’d expect, but if they were beating her we’d be given numbers.

  • Johua

    Maybe they won’t give figures because they only see the stats from 1 source. If the stats they are seeing are phone votes then this is even more remarkable

  • stoney

    Jump on them at 6/1 if you believe this. Easy money surely?

  • Johua

    Why would I back them at 6/1 when i can back them at 15/2 ?
    That makes no sense at all

  • Johua

    What are you talking about ‘free money’ why would you say such nonsense. I just posted an article and you post all this nonsense. I was trying to be helpful not cause an argument.

  • EM

    Loving the Daily Star photo caption “Louisa, 19”. Could have sworn she was younger than that.

    If onto the show had made it clear.

  • Johua

    I already have done so. I made plenty backing Ben last year after the leak while people were still convinced Fleur was going to win pmsl

    • stoney

      Some people were also convinced Lauren was going to win this year. That was far more embarrassing than when Fleur a rank outsider when i backed her came 2nd
      Good luck with your rnb bet mr pro gambler

      • Donald

        Lauren Platt easily won public early on last year and got no help from tptb and actually finished third with no help. That is proper appeal and artist, funny old game entertainment buis.
        Lauren was only one who had the kind of public support needed to beat Ben.

  • Johua

    What a strange way of expressing your thoughts you have.

  • David Cook

    You can ‘dominate’ the vote in the early weeks with 20 – 30% of the vote, when the remainder is shared between a larger number of acts. But to win you still need to get over 50% come the final. I think there is a ceiling to the level of support R&B can get – and it’s lower than that.

  • Curtis

    That Daily Star article is not a leak. It’s just a journalist embellishing the facts. It’s nothing to do with voting percentages, it’s just them saying that that they haven’t finished in the Bottom 2.

    If it was an actual reveal of how the voting was going, they would parade it a bit more than that!

  • Lia

    Kind of quoting Vicky Pattison: it’s clear we’re not all going to get along (agree). Can we at least be civil?
    Confirmation bias is making everybody sound stupid (all sides). TPTB have already taken a huge dump on the show this year. Let’s not do the same on the Sofabet comments section. Want to act like spoiled brat arseholes? Go to DS.

  • Alan

    Id expect RnB to get more votes on the sunday as thats when all the kids are watching the show. Id have thought they would be more popular with younger viewers than Louisa.

    • stoney

      Not sure the youngsters will take to a bob Dylan cover. The final is always won on a saturday. If they beat a 1/10 shot it would have to be the biggest upset in reality tv history.

    • EM

      Interesting stat about youngster viewing Alan, where’d you get that info?

      • Alan

        I dont have any stats but my 8 yr old daughter goes to bed at 8pm and watches the show on a Sunday. Just tend to think that its likely to be an older audience watching on a Saturday night. Its probably a more casual crowd watching on a Sunday and my feeling is that is more where RnBs support lies.

        • fused

          There’s also the possibility that Reggie n Bollie are more popular with older members of the audience than might be thought.

          I was in a pub for my lunch today, and these two men who I think were in their 50s were talking about The X Factor (the only time I’ve really seen anyone talk about it this year – that’s been the big difference this time compared to other years, I’ve hardly seen or heard anyone in real life talk about it this time). Anyway, they both said they wanted Reggie n Bollie to win and that they were their favourites for most of the competition.

          Now, I realise that this might not mean much, they might not be representative of anything and they might not vote and so on, but I found it interesting, and I am a firm believer in paying attention to what people say about the show in “the real world” outside of the internet. It’s not always a good way of predicting a winner (I still think Louisa is more likely to win), but I think it can sometimes give you an idea of what sort of support is out there for a contestant.

    • Keen Observer

      I’d agree with RnB perhaps getting more votes tonight; their week 2 1D song was most entertaining performance of series for me and if endorsed by 1D at all should be a decent vote winner. However, lots of people will have already used their votes etc so difficult to imagine them picking up enough to overturn if Louisa leading after Sat. Half expect RnB do be doing an alternative winners song just in case though.

      • Martin

        Yeah, the performance Reggie n Bollie are doing tonight of 1D/Cheerleader has been my favourite all series, I’m looking forward to it even if the show is already won. 1D endorsed Jack Walton the week he left last year although granted he was singing an unknown 80s song and not their biggest hit. That said, It’s been the most obvious series in a long time.

        I also think Reggie n Bollie may be given a different winners song. As fun as they have been, I can’t see Syco have encouraged them to be coming second and not have considered that them doing Forever Young would be a joke.

  • stoney

    Less than 6 million viewers last night WTF
    no wonder they didn’t mention the vote count. Shocking figures. Will obviously rise tonight with Adelle Coldplay and 1D but last night’s figures are awful

  • Plinkiplonk

    At the rate this is going, and with 5 free votes per device it can’t be long until they have more votes than viewers… the spin on this one will make for interesting reading for sure.

    I think the biggest problem of this show is their chasing of the young demographic. That group is notoriously fickle, and a program you absolutely adore at 12 may be embarassingly uncool at 15, hence the plunging viewing figures. In comparison, i.e. Strictly: if you like a show at 45 you probably still like it at 50, unless it is changed too much.

    Also, this series was just very unpleasant to watch over all. the cruel bits were too drawn out, the manipulation was ruthless and at times totally shameless. And the treatment of Fleur vs Ben made it very clear what would happen if the producers favourite wouldn’t win: Ben gets shoved on as a filler during the first Saturday show, Feur gets star treatment on the Sunday a week later. Ben duets with Leona, introducing her very much as the star turn, Fleur gets a production with Little Mix that reads clearly as ‘Fleur and her backing dancers’.

    A part of me desperately wants to read more into Simon’s comment about R ‘n B being able to win this, but realistically I cannot see past the inevitable. The rugby WC didn’t help, but this has been the most preditable, boring series so far, and I am glad the viewing figures reflect this.

    • Chris Bellis

      Dead right. Predictability is boring, and the manipulation has meant we could see the machinations too clearly. The Grand National is one of the most watched races in the world, mainly because it’s unpredictable. This series of X-Factor has been more like a midweek race at Southwell or Uttoxeter – maybe not as good as that really.

    • stoney

      I may be wrong but i imagine an act gets told they could win it every year. Adds to the suspense/competition . I’ll sure fleur was told it during last year’s final. Tonight I imagine the comments will be more geared to the fact that Louisa will win. But after last year they have been very careful not to show too much bias towards her. The fact the 2 most pimped acts are in th final 2 will please tptb a great deal and both acts will be aware of this and extremely greatful whatever the result tonight

      • Plinkiplonk

        Sorry, but do you mean they have been very careful not to show too much bias towards Louisa ? Are you being serious ? Did you actually watch any of the live shows ? The only blatant trick they did not repeat from last year was the bus incident. Instead they were seen applying the name to Che’s bus at the last minute, like he was an afterthought. As if they wouldn’t have had buses for all 4 semi finalists anyway…

  • stoney

    Watched every single show thanks. I mean the fact they have equally pimped RNB has levelled things out a bit more. Running orders for Louisa haven’t been as favoured as previous pimped acts in past years. Infact nowhere close.
    The most important thing they did which wouldn’t have been so obvious to the casual viewer was cherry pick the contestants that would have been no threat to Louisa.

  • Martin

    They gave Louisa angel wings last week. If that isn’t bias, I don’t know what is.

    • stoney

      Oh come off it. You need a lot more to win the x factor than a pair of virtual wings!

      • Martin

        yeah, maybe like singing on a cloud every other week, other heavenly staging, being told every performance is ‘a moment’, wearing white week on week, and the only negative comments coming from when she had a sore throat (and even then she was told she was the best thing since sliced bread). Face it, she’s been pimped to high heaven and she’s only won because every other contestant (apart from one act who can’t sing) has been dragged down. It’s been obvious to everyone, even outside of this site, and far from subtle.

  • Johua

    I doubt there’s a person on the planet who thinks Louisa hasn’t been given special treatment. Except Stoney lol

    • stoney

      When have i said that? It was obvious from audition show one she was plan A hence why i backed her and told everyone on here i was doing so. I am honest and back 1 person per show.
      I also doubt there is anyone in the world who thinks she isnt talented.
      She would be the best winner the show has had since Leona. Rita hit the nail on the head last night.

  • mb79493

    I don’t doubt that Louisa had extra-special treatment, but it doesn’t feel nauseating to me, in the same way it did last year. Each performance has been very good, in a way Fleur’s weren’t.

    Honestly, the manipulation hasn’t been as bad this year, but the contestant’s reactions (Anton, Monica, Lauren) have been worse, making it seem more obvious than it really was. Like, with Lauren, they never really went after her in the same way as Christopher Maloney or Janet Devlin. A few dodgy staging choices aside, she never really got much negativity.

    • stoney

      Its just sour grapes from punters who missed out on the opening prices for Louisa and backed the wrong horse/horses.
      We’ve all been there. My last 5 years of second places have involved being shafted by tptb apart from last year which was just a travesty of justice.
      The fact of the matter is this. No casual viewer who doesn’t gamble on x factor is offended or even bothered about Louisas treatment in the slightest. Infact i speak to more people who complain about the fact Rnb cannot sing to save their lives

      • EM

        Stoney – I try to avoid being personal online – but you are starting to come across in not a good way. I know you can and do make intelligent contributions but there are times you come across as immature and petty.

        When you (and others) are like that this place is not an enjoyable read which is a shame as its one of the online gems most of the time

        • stoney

          How about yourself rehashing the same questions to people year in year out requesting stats to back up certain comments. You may be more subtle in your attempts to belittle sometime but you’re no Louisa yourself.
          For the record I don’t get into name calling or any direct abuse to anyone unless it’s in retaliation.

          • stoney

            Ps tensions are always heated at this time of the year. Big deal. It certainly doesn’t undermine the great work the owners of this site do year in year out. Ok it might put some posters off but the likes of Che and kitty will still read on silently regardless.

        • stoney

          And on that note id like to wish everyone the best of luck tonight and a merry xmas and happy new year

        • Donald

          I would tend to agree EM, calm down Stoney, enjoy the moment, looks like you should win tonight. This is a hard game as you above all should know, you just wrote a classic line though “travistry of justice” re Fleur. Oh my God, the effort to get you to lay off last year was well, was more than one post. They had you convinced and you had convinced yourself.

          At least I am not telling you lay off this year but there are a few signals from last night to maybe not be jumpimg up and down just yet. You are great contributer and good fun and do hope you win.

          On another note App last night, EM you asked earlier in season, and of course forgot to answer, if they reboot the app might zero it. They’ll do anything to get her across the line, even a second duet with Adele, they never would, would they… i reckon if Louisa behind even Adele on early and she says would likd Louisa to win.

          • EM

            Donald thank you. there has been a couple of strange app incidents this year.

            Unlike text and calls there’s no record of how you voted and as it’s free then less controversy If it goes wrong.

            But they wouldn’t would they???

        • Donald

          Welcome, good anology re “read” also. It is great place, a real gem.

          Indeed a few strange app incidents this year. It will be intersting to see when the weekly votes are revealed if the app incident did for 4I the week they went.

          No app controversy from Ofcom or PhonepayPlus, it is grey area and that not even mentioning the “Strictly” crossovers and contensious issues that generates.

          I think you and I could take a fair guess at “but they wouldn’t would they???”

          Another thing to consider re tonight is that some of the. big bookmakers are laying big bets, Betfred tweeted in November one punter has “a record 100K plus bet on Louisa” That may account in part for the Sun story mentioned below.

          They might be angling for tomorrow, Louisa win not much of a story really, X Factor Fix would be alright on a slow news day.

  • Donald

    Less than six million viewers, it is their own fault. When you continue to hammer genuine public favouites into submission people switch off and it is hard to blame them. Lauren and Andreas in particular last year, Lauren 4I and Kiera in particular this year.

    They made an error, they had a potential 17 year old natural winner last year, have tried to replicate this year with a chosen one and hasn’t worked.

    My niece who is decent guide, did not watch last night except voted for RnB after watching Little Mix, was not impressed Fleur was in ths middle of them, ooh, she not a fan of X Factor producers at the minute.

    Expect banging of tables for votes for Louisa tonight. Lower the viewing figures the more compressed the vote might be.

    RnB had great first song, Louisa had great second song in the context of the night, it is not over until over over. Betting seems to say it is and Stoney certainly does on here.

    One real lingering thought from last night, why did Simon say “you could win” in RnB comments? We all at this long enough on here and some really talented and focused astute observers to know that he was very very unlikely to say that unless he really had to, I know Rita had a serious deramp go for tptb with cruiseship comment after, but words like that from Simon very odd. Public like to back winners, why even remotely mention and here is second thought with good first performance with lines open, maybe they had to put blockers on the app.

    Odds on shots do get beaten, that why bookies love them.

    Louisa is a decent green for me since early doors good prices, not a penny on RnB. Cheryl to be winning Judge is a green. Not a bad position to end up on.

    Common sense says Louisa wins but why on earth did Simon say what he said.

    • Boki

      This one is very strange!? Can anyone remember that a win favorite (who is a TCO) was so disgraced on the final day?

    • Lia

      Ouch! Has the Sun gone rogue? As we usually say… Maybe TPTB were just not able to offer a better story this time around.

      And whoever wrote that article definitely reads Sofabet!!!

      • Donald

        Maybe they don’t have a story to match.

        Hard to deny the truth, very odd article.

        Can fondly remember 2015 as the year Sofabet went mainstream 🙂

  • simon kent

    Fuse ODG yesterday and 1D song today will surely influence a good number of teen votes turns in favour of RnB. Still not enough comparing to the momentum going on for Louisa.

    Cheryl going to start a record label with RnB as first act to sign? http://www.tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/the-x-factor/244165-xfactor-2015-cheryl-plans-to-sign-reggie-n-bollie-to-her-own-label.html

  • Now then, now then children. Calm down, calm down.

    No need to get heated. Stoney – had you down as a level-headed guy on this. Yeah you got burnt last year but I know from your comments during Eurovision that you changed your approach as a result.

    The way I see it is a few bob on Reggie n’ Bollie isn’t a bad idea if you only stick on what you can afford to lose. If you’ve already got a big green on Louisa, it’ll cover you. If you’ve got only a small green on Louisa, then you’ll win something regardless.

    All the evidence, research and analaysis says Louisa has this, end of story. However, my gut says that Reggie n’ Bollie could still top this.

    Back in Copenhagen last year, the market was all over Sweden and Armenia until SF1. Then for 48 hours it was all about the Netherlands. It was only once the bearded lady sang during SF2 that Austria started shortening.

    And statistically, there are currently more runners-up with commercial success than there are winners. Indeed, of all the winners this decade so far, you can only really say Little Mix have gotten anywhere.

    Even I forget at times that One Direction only came third. Somebody’s already alluded to the treatment of Ben Haenow vs. Fleur East on their respective guest appearances.

    And then there’s Susan Boyle.

    It’s not over yet… I wish you all good luck.

    • Ferret

      Agree with a lot of what has been written today.

      Stoney, i’m not sure betting is for you – you get far too emotionally involved in your pick and ultimately that is not good for your bank balance as you will not make rational decisions. Successfully betting is about being above to seize value wherever it exists, even if that means changing direction.

      On another note the X-Factor has been a punting nightmare this year – largely due to the prolonged pre-lives at the expense of the actual lives, coupled with the subsequent need for multiple eliminations each week (selecting bottom of the vote as opposed to which act the judges will eject is a lot less predictable)

      Having said that it has still been a profitable year for me – just not on the scale of previous years. I’ve probably only made three figures from the series – which is not a great return on turnover.

      After various juggling, I now find myself looking at final profits of £158 for Louisa, while RnB are now a £59 loss. I will cover RnB at around 10/1 in due course to move it to something like £140/£100 profit

      However this compares to this time last year when Ben was a £2400 profit and Fleur £2200. The main difference between the two was been the regularly changing odds last year creating plenty of exploit opportunities, whereas this year with Louisa very short from the get-go, the outright odds have been a lot more static and the opportunities just have not been there.

      But in summary – ideally every punter should be going into tonight making a profit regardless of the outcome and if you have a chance to make that happen because of a lop-sided book on Louisa, then have a small investment on RnB. They could still win!

  • Really looking forward to the voting stats being released tonight. I think Reggie N Bollie will have topped the vote at least two or three times. Week 4 for sure, possibly weeks 6 and 2 as well. If that is true, then surely they aren’t necessarily down and out just yet. I think Louisa is more likely to win, but I think we might be seeing voting percentages closer to Little Mix vs Marcus rather than Ben vs Fleur.

    Louisa’s duet last night has enormous likes on facebook, suggesting that it might have won it for her. But she still has likeability problems imo. When she gets through, she never looks surprised or particularly happy, whereas Reggie N Bollie are the opposite and *humble*. Hoping for a RnB upset tonight, but not holding my breath. The judges comments tonight should be particularly telling of how the voting is going, as they usually are for the Sunday night final.

    • Lia

      I’m more excited about the voting stats coming out tonight than the show. Still not watching. Probably going to be catching up on Grim and then reading all about XF here. 😉

  • Linda

    I got a real “end of journey” feel about Louisa last night. I backed RnB at 9/2 earlier in the week and still think they can pull this off.

    • Dazzle

      I felt the whole thing was like fleur last year, pimp to come second and be remembered cause she had no chance of winning and that was the best they could hope for

      • mb79493

        I felt like with Fleur they deliberately gave her staging that wouldn’t really win votes as opposed to set up a career, whereas Louisa’s staging read as though it was to get votes rather than setting her up as the John Lewis Siren of our times.

  • Dazzle

    Reggie and bollie will have topped the vote week 2 then around 2nd or 3rd in week 3 then topped it on week 4 then after that I don’t know. I think they could slip in and win it tonight but it will be very close either way.

    • Curtis

      I would be surprised if Reggie N Bollie topped the vote in week 4. Maybe at the vote freeze when Mason was eliminated, but I would expect Louisa to have topped the overall vote that week.

  • Curtis

    At times of trouble, the best thing to do is to return to first principles. The most middle-of-the-road contestant tends to win the final. That person is Louisa.

    Of course we shouldn’t be dogmatic about anything as lots of people have in the comments this series – we must be ready to adapt our position based on what we see in front of us. However, Louisa goes into tonight as strong favourite in my eyes. I’d have to see some pretty compelling evidence to the contrary to flip my position.

    Last year, Ben Haenow got a comment after singing the winner’s single saying it seemed like the song had been written for him. If RnB are doing Bob Dylan they won’t quite get that, but similar comments about how it will be a perfect number 1 record for them contrasting with end of journey comments for Louisa would be a great reason to switch horses.

    Edit: As for the “end of journey” apparent feeling for Louisa last night, reminding the public that she wants to win seems far from end of journey to me.

    • Plinkiplonk

      Apart from Simon suggesting that R ‘n B could actually win this, the only other jarring comment to me was that Louisa obviously wanted to win this. Because if we have learnt anything, it’s that female contestants on reality TV must NOT be ambitious or driven; it’s not great in males, too, but girls/women must be HUMBLE HUMBLE HUMBLE at all times…

      • Curtis

        And while that’s 100% true, you can’t call it an end of journey comment. Also notice that on the recaps they highlighted Cheryl saying about her “finally believing you can win this” which both fits the need to be humble and is far from end of journey.

  • Alan

    Talk about wise after the event. Dont recall anyone suggesting RnB were doing anything other than scraping through at the time. For what its worth I still think that’s more likely.
    Everything points to a Louisa win to me.

  • DannyCraig

    And now The Sun aren’t pimping R&B either?

    http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/6801867/X-Factor-finalists-Reggie-N-Bollie-have-already-had-big-hits-in-Africa.html

    I just want tonight to be over & done with. Louisa has to win, but there’s a nagging feeling that she might still not…

    • Lia

      Yes, I’m sure now. This year has been so boring that TPTB are out of exchange stories. OR they are sooooo deperate that will do anything to save the final viewing figures!!! Too little too late.
      Worried about the franchise? You cocked it up weeks ago!!!

    • EM

      The Sun seem to have it in for X Factor today. A lot of stories all having a go at it. Interestingly it’s very clear they’re having a go at the show/producers/Syco rather than Cowell so could be a wrangle over access to the winner. It’s certainly not stories planted by the show.

  • Rob4

    anyone who is in profit from the series overall should be having a lay on Louisa. i’ve risked £13 to win a hundred just to have an interest tonight after cashing in big on R&B in the w/o Louisa market. it’s small change for a bit of fun.

  • Ferret

    tote/betfred back louisa @ 1.2
    lay betfair @ 1.13/1.14

    6%/7% profit for a couple of hours investment

  • The maestro

    How much did u get on ferret some bookies have pathetic limits on how much you can put on reality tv paddy power are the best

  • Ferret

    louisa drifting – coral now 1.22

  • EM

    “Time to crown the winner”

    Told you!

  • Are they using canned audience noises?

  • Phil

    This song really doesn’t work as a group performance does it? :-/

  • Martin

    Wow that was the worst group song ever. Everybody sounded horrible.

  • 360

    Surprised at the constant references to Reggie n Bollie as ‘having a chance to win’ in all of the ‘last night’s’ VTs. Trying to stop an anti-Simon vote now or trying to paint Louisa as unassuming? Or are they actually in with a chance?

  • 23 Minutes and no singing yet – they’ve outdone ORF for padding!

  • Donald

    Not pushing Louisa out front much tonight, a much more reserved approach.

  • Donald

    They going to try memory hole RnB here with 1D.

  • Donald

    Red and Black lol..

  • Lia

    Husband wants to watch it. Just to piss me off…

  • Odds have just come in quite a bit on Reggie n Bollie

  • Curtis

    This crowd reaction. And everyone is talking about how Reggie ‘N’ Bollie can win. Read the runes, and quickly.

  • Ferret

    louisa now 1.29 Rnb as low as 3.5 … hope those that had the chance levelled their books because that boat has flown

  • Curtis

    I’ve decided that it’s definitely not close in one direction or the other, or they would not have just been allowed that moment.

  • Hoping they drift back out during Louisa. If they do I’ll jump in.

  • James Bevan

    Judges couldn’t resist an absolute pimping then, Louisa clearly prepped on what to say too.

  • Joe

    Have backed the so called novelty act to win the last few years Wagner, Rylan, Maloney thinking that one year the public would do it just for a laugh. (Though I did back little mix). Never really believed it would happen, but it made the show more interesting along with reading this site. This year I thought Louisa had it in the bag as they have pimped her to high heaven and slaughtered the rest,while R and B were pimped a lot making me think they must have just escaped the bottom 2 every week.

    Didn’t back anyone apart from a few quid on Sean miley moore at the start who I think should have lasted longer in the comp.
    Louisa should win, plus there is the continued comparison with Leona and of course SHE IS ONLY 17!! But something just doesn’t sit with me. Not that likeable, not very humble and seems the same every week.
    She is very robotic.

    Comments tonight for Louisa seem desperate. It’s close.
    I would love an upset!!!

  • R&B back just below the 7 mark. Now’s the time to sort your books out.

  • Ferret

    louisa now back in again and RnB drift …. lots of good betting opps during this final 🙂

  • Curtis

    Random thoughts about Louisa’s “performance of the series”

    Prolonged entrance – just like Fleur for her performance of the series in the final last year. She’s wearing black, rather than white.

    Nailed it again, and went in big at the end to make sure. Big reaction too (though not as big as for Reggie ‘N’ Bollie).

    “It’s like a smack in the face when you perform” says Nick. Whoops. But “in a nice way”.

    Rita says she’s “looking at the winner of the X Factor” – that’s not a motivating statement, but nor did Reggie N Bollie get a motivating statement.

    And we’re no wiser.

    • EM

      I did think “you’re not human” wasn’t a great help as a comment (repeated by Caroline) given people’s reservations about lack of character

      • Curtis

        I agree, and that comment was reiterated a lot. I actually didn’t find Louisa’s comments to be the most helpful. Where was Rita banging the table?

        My read is that Louisa is not in need of massive help to win. An alternative interpretation is that they’re resigned to Reggie N Bollie winning.

        • EM

          That’s my reading too – tonight is a chance to launch two recording careers in front of 6 million viewers.

          No need to do any damage if it’s not necessary.

    • 360

      It’s worth noting that Nick is avowedly Team Reggie n Bollie and Simon is neutral.

  • Donald

    They comment pimped Louisa all they could, have themselves covered with RnB comments.
    Must be close, the versions of winners song they both do are very very different. No guessing the one expected to be better but you’d never know.

    Noticed Carloine was very careful to make sure RnB mentioned with Louisa in voting after her song. Ofcom Rules and fair play comes to mind.

  • Dean F

    Not sure but tonight feels more resigned against Louisa as if RnB are ahead but signals are mixed

  • 1D have had more airtime than the actual contestants so far!

  • Alan

    What was all that mawkish crap with 1D? Four hard working puppets with decent voices. Nowhere near as talented as that little montage tried to make out.

  • What’s the betting SVT do a similar VT to the Will Ferrell one for Eurovision now?

  • That’s a true Red & Blacking if ever I saw one,

  • Alison cassells

    Holy crap what the hell is that I’m hearing, a deramping of epic proportion , after all its a “singing” compitition

  • Curtis

    This is as bad as we all hoped it could be.

  • Dean F

    Singing competition proven

  • Plinkiplonk

    That reminded me of the times when they made the freaks do a performance on the finals… They deserve to win for being forced to humiliate themselves like that.

  • I think Louisa has just won this. I think we’re about to get that moment.

  • Alison cassells

    Plinki I’m with you

  • Curtis

    That was actually a very tasteful way to deal with that performance I thought. But as end of journey goes, it doesn’t get any more end of journey than that.

  • Donald

    The choir were in tune, the comments are being safe, seems forced to be so in parts. Like we have to say this, tptb seem to be laboured tonight. This song is it maybe.

  • DannyCraig

    The only problem could be that most people would have used up their 5 votes already…we’re 85 minutes into the show.

  • Alison cassells

    A bit too quick with the standing ovation there lol

  • mb79493

    Reggie N Bollie are much more fun than John Louisa.

  • Wow. Just wow. Such a contract in production.

  • Curtis

    This is the worst winner’s single ever. They’ll need better to launch her career properly next year!

  • Dean F

    Louisa can defo be a popstar but as I said yday a big year for Syco to ensure she becomes one

  • Donald

    That the moment they been loking for all season. Louisa deseves to win after that, Nailed it. They are pushing hard for votes still..

  • “There’s still time to influence the vote” – really Caroline, what are the producers going to do now?

  • Martin

    It was nice to see tptb had a contingency plan in place, just in case Louisa couldn’t manage it tonight.

    Jesus, Reggie n Bollie’s winners single. Did NOBODY seriously think to try something else?!

  • Plinkiplonk

    I would love to see them having shot themselves in the foot with that. I mean, that wasn’t even a contest as such, it felt like comparing two guys that just wandered in off the street with a prefessional singer – pointless. Like a lot of this series, this felt like an unneccesary parading of the tuneless. Like that chicken guy singing Barbie girl. He went through several auditions with producers only to be sent in front of the panel to be ridiculed. R ‘n B have been built up as a credible winner for weeks, and then they get sent out to sing with minimal intrumentals to expose their weak vocals, all just to make Louisa sound better ? Low, very low, Cowell.

  • Curtis

    The amount of reverb on Adele’s vocals. Clear producer favouritism!

  • God I fucking hate this woman.

    Can we just take a second to remember Andi Peters, a casualty of the digital downloading age?

    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CWIvQe0W4AEYaEi.jpg:large

  • Lia

    Lauren was Adele’s favourite! Hahaha! Hilarious!!! She may have dueted with her then…

  • BETTING ENDS!

    Good luck everyone.

  • Donald

    Good luck to all, been one strange series.

  • Lia

    Good luck everybody!!!

  • Curtis

    I will hear no criticism, and see no criticism of Adele! All I can say is that I no longer feel sorry for Lauren, she both got to meet Adele and got her endorsement. She’ll be alright.

  • DannyCraig

    Any coincidence that Forever Young was chosen as the winner’s song and all we have heard all series is how Louisa is young and only 17?

    I don’t believe in coincidences…

  • Martin

    They didn’t want to risk Lauren in the final with an Adele duet, then.

    Good luck all.

  • Bloody hell, it’s like reliving the Rachel Crow breakdown…

    Oh well. Props to the producers on a clean hit.

  • James Bevan

    Voting statistics when?

  • Dean F

    Excellent result for many

  • Curtis

    Congrats TPTB. Congrats everyone who profited off this.

  • And there we go. Look forward to the post-match analysis from Daniel. Massive thanks to Dan and all of you for another season of insight and banter. Been an odd season, but Sofabet has been as good as ever. See you at Eurovision!

  • Boki

    Congrats to Louisa and many thanks to Sofabet team for the coverage !

  • Rose

    After my first full Sofabet X Factor season, both in terms of contributing and betting, I just wanted to thank my agent, my mother, uncle Tom Cobley….and, seriously, Daniel, for the sheer weight of insight in every blog and the commentators, for the intelligent debate you find here (if not in too many other places on the internet.)
    It’s sort of been a pleasure – but it has also been quite painful. I think I will have to get into Eurovision now, to deal with the withdrawal pains. And perhaps to get the sight and sound of RnB doing the winner’s single out of my mind, once and for all.

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