They're the most annoying thing about this series, they spoil it and make it depressing, and most of the sob stories are incredibly lame!
I wouldn't mind if we heard about their misfortunes at one point of the competiton, or even twice, but every single episode the same people are crying and bitching at us about how their uncle's best friend's dentist's wife's tragic death has inspired them to seek a new and better life on the X Factor.