[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)

[Tom4784]

I don't think the show has been damaged by Leon winning, he constantly improved over the course of the competition and i think that in the end he quite deserved it. I can't wait for his album (which hopefully Simon will keep his promise and not rush out an album of covers) I think he's gonna do well.

[natjake2504]

leon won fair & square the end of the day leon fans were there and made the votes. I know ive spent about £30 on my phone phoning for him

[supernoodles!]

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


How dare they!!lol

There not much point going over the reasons Rhydian lost out although I do beleive most of those listed to be true.It doesnt matter now anyway becuase Rhydians going to have an amazing career and will be around way longer than Leon

[GiRTh]

The show is going to find it difficult to recover from this. Many people are of the similar opinion to me in that we think the show is no longer a talent contest. Next year is going to be an interesting year for Leon and for the X-Factor. This year has been a bit of a disaster in that they have an act that may be marketable but does not possess the talent to sustain any kind of long term career. Leon can croon and thats it. OK Rhydian can only sing opera but Opera has a much bigger market plus the swing/crooner market already has Michael Buble and - to a lesser extent - Robbie both of those guys are also brilliant live perfomers. I dont think Leon stands much of a chance.

[SairBabi92]

Yeah i think it helped him that Kylie sung with him, she has become more and more popular since she had breast cancer but i do think Leon and Kylie's duet was the best, Katherine Jenkins spoilt Rhydian's version of 'you raise me up' in my opinion. Their voices didn't go well together.