[Red Moon]

The X Factor: the aftermath

Ladbrokes have called it "the biggest shock in reality history". So why did Leon win The X Factor?

Everyone has a theory, here are some of the most popular, listed, as they say, in no particular order.

1. The Scotland vote gave Leon the advantage. This is the most popular theory, possibly overstated considering Scotland has 5 million residents out of about 60 million Brits.

2. Leon sang before Rhydian so there was more time to vote for him.

3. Once Same Difference were knocked out, many of their fans were more likely to switch their vote to Leon and not Rhydian.

4. Rhydian is Welsh and British people can never bring themselves to vote for Welsh people. Ask Neil Kinnock.

5. Leon was more "likeable", whatever that means.

6. Rhydian had starey eyes/ginger hair/looked too Aryan.

7. Kylie Minogue stole the show and boosted Leon's votes with her star power.

8. Rhydian was so the favourite that some of his supporters didn't bother voting for him.

9. Rhydian fans could not get through to vote - many have been complaining on blogs.

10. Leon cried on stage, attracting sympathy.

11. Leon had a better sob story.

12. Leon had more emotional filmed segments.

Have I missed any other reasons?

I still feel that Rhydian will be more successful than Leon in the long run. As the Sun points out, he may well join other reality TV losers who came out on top, including Liberty X, who lost Popstars to Hear'Say, Lemar, who came third in Fame Academy, G4, who lost the first X Factor series to Steve Brookstein, who as the Daily Mirror points out, was singing to 50 diners in a pizza restaurant in Maidstone on Saturday when Leon clinched his "£1m recording contract".

A final question: has the programme been damaged by Leon winning? Over to you.

Source: Guardian (Blog)