Before each show started...
 

Who do you think the judges (primarily Simon) expected the finalists to be?

I'm not so sure about the first three series, but in the last two I think it was more obvious that the judges had preconceptions about who would fare well, although it's open to interpretation.

Series 4: Rhydian, Hope and Futureproof.
Series 5: Diana, Eoghan and Laura
Series 6: Danyl, Jamie, Miss Frank

I'm not sure about the earlier series but for the last 3;

Series 4; Niki, Hope + Andy (0/3)
Series 5; Austin, Diana + Laura (0/3)
Series 6; Joe, Olly + Danyl (2/3)

I don't think anyone expected Miss Frank to make the final :P

I always knew Miss Frank would go early. I had a feeling they were just escaping the bottom 2 each time. It'll be interesting to see if that's right when the results are released.

Really? The way Simon kept bigging them up, you don't think he did?

Same, I thought it would be Miss Frank or Kandy Rain out in the first week.

I'm not talking about the public's view though, that translates into who's made it into the finals, I'm talking about before the show started, who was getting the biggest hype. I think Simon's very keen for a band, particularly a girl band, to be launched from the X Factor.

yeah girlband's always fail and they didn;t even have the looks to coast by on. Plus they were a bit common, rough which I don't think was very appealing either. A poor mans' Sugababes.

Don't think any of them predicted Joe to be in the final either

That's not what I'm getting at though, that's what the public sees, we're talking what Simon and the other judges see, and I think he saw them as finalists. Ah well, just my opinion though. I think he definitely wanted Danyl to win the competition, he couldn't have shoved him down our throats any more than he did.

But obviously who the judges think will make the final is based entirely on the public. The judges new Miss Frank wouldn't be popular imo, Louis even admitted he got a crap bunch this year.

Not to begin with, how can they know what the public will like before the public element kicks in? Simon kept raving on about how they would be a fantastic group, three great voice et cetera, et cetera. I think they quickly realised Miss Frank weren't going to be popular after the live shows had begun, but that's not the same thing as pre-show hype. They did the same thing with Hope and Futureproof, dubbing them as amazing just because the judges had the notion to turn 5 solo singers into a band, twice in the same series. Once the show's started, it all changes, but before the show - with all the editing that goes on - they big some acts up more than others.

Series 4: Hope, Beverley and Niki
Series 5: Austin, Laura and Alexandra (Diana wasn't noticed until the live shows begun)
Series 6: Lucie, Miss Frank and Danyl

Because Simon knows the public and what they like and how shows like this work. He knew they wouldn't be popular because they didn't have what it takes but seeing as there were **** all groups of any substance this year, he had to make out they were fantastic.

Oh and series three:

Nikitta, Kerry and Ashley

We'll find out on Saturday who the judges predicted to win (Xtra Factor)

Louis already said he said it would be Olly.