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Red Moon · 23-11-2008, 10:09 AM

Quote:

ONE HOARSE RACE

X Factor was at the centre of a favouritism row last night after Alexandra Burke sang despite being ILL.

Alex, 20, has laryngitis - the same agonising throat condition that Diana Vickers was fighting a fortnight ago.

But while favourite Diana, 17, was ruled too sick to perform and given a "bye" - automatic entry to the next round - Alex was told she had to go on with last night's show.

Astonishingly it is being claimed that after Alex was diagnosed she was told to "keep it quiet" by production staff on the ITV1 show.

Close family friend Peter Brophy revealed how Alex was told not to make a fuss over her illness by the show's bosses.

Accusing The X Factor of favouritism, Peter said: "Alex has got the same illness as Diana but she has been told not to tell anyone.

"Alex was told to keep it under wraps that she was ill. They didn't give her a valid reason.

"Alex wanted to at least be offered a week off like Diana but she didn't get that.

"It's very political and the show is not as straightforward as it seems.

"The contestants are upset because they feel Diana is being singled out and given preferential treatment. The show's producers want her to win.

"You can't have one rule for one person and one rule for another, it's not fair."

Alex's condition was so bad earlier in the week that she was warned not to push herself by Take That star Gary Barlow.

He was so concerned about her singing while suffering from laryngitis that he told her she shouldn't even be SPEAKING.

As Alex, from north London, struggled to take part in a singing masterclass with the boy band, Gary advised her to take it easy.

A show insider said: "Alex had throat problems and went to see a Harley Street specialist.

"Gary Barlow gave her some strict advice and told her to keep talking to a minimum in order to rest her voice in between shows.

"She took his advice and has been writing everything down rather than talking in the house."

Diana, from Blackburn, Lancs, had to pull out of performing a big Mariah Carey number after being diagnosed with laryngitis.

She was ordered to rest by doctors and missed one live Saturday show over fears that she could cause longterm damage to her voice.

Alex's pal Peter, 40, who has known her since she was 13 and plays drums in her mum Melissa's band Soul Explosion, said: "Alex has got the same illness as Diana.

"She's quite ill but she's not been given the same treatment as Diana. She's not been allowed to have a week off like Diana.

"Alex went to the doctor on Thursday last week. She had throat problems for over a week before that. But the XFactor people said not to leak it to anyone that she had laryngitis.

"I think they said that because they want to keep it from the public so that Diana looks great and stronger."

Peter also claims Diana was given an easy ride on her return last Saturday. Despite wowing viewers with her version of Coldplay's hit Yellow, it was not her original choice.

Peter said: "Diana was supposed to sing Never Ever by All Saints but last Friday she changed it to Yellow because maybe it was easier for her to sing.

"Alex wanted to change her song on the week she did Candy Man but she wasn't allowed. She was upset about that too." Despite her illness, Alex pulled out all the stops last night and impressed millions of viewers with her performance of Relight My Fire.

An X Factor spokeswoman claimed Alex's laryngitis was not as serious as the condition that affected Diana.

The spokeswoman said: "Alex was not as ill as Diana. She didn't have full-blown laryngitis.

"Alex had a mild form. We took doctors' advice as to whether or not she should perform. The thing with them all living in the house is that when one of them gets ill they all catch it.

"There were concerns at the beginning of the week but she was given medication and was fine to perform. If there had been serious concerns she wouldn't have performed."

Medical experts say acute laryngitis gets worse over two or three days before disappearing within one week. Chronic laryngitis can last for months at a time and regularly affects singers.

Peter added: "Alex is doing so well in the competition. But it seems that the X Factor bosses have already decided who their favourite is."

But a senior show source insisted: "There is no favouritism on The X Factor."

Source: Sunday People

LemonJam · 23-11-2008, 10:13 AM

To be honest though, at this stage of the competition it'd be either she performs or she's kicked out.

Tom4784 · 23-11-2008, 10:15 AM

If she had laryngitis she wouldn't be able to sing fullstop. I heard she had a bad throat but it obviously wasn't that serious considering her amazing performance. More media BS.

mizzy25 · 23-11-2008, 10:30 AM

i still dont think diana was as bad as they made out she terrible every week anyway. if people actually listened to that instead of saying shes different etc theyd see how bad she is

XxShortyxX · 23-11-2008, 10:32 AM

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Originally posted by mizzy25
i still dont think diana was as bad as they made out she terrible every week anyway. if people actually listened to that instead of saying shes different etc theyd see how bad she is

I do listen to her thank you, and I like her voice, because it is different, just because you don't like her voice doesn't mean we all have to not like it as well.

ParentalAdvisory · 23-11-2008, 10:41 AM

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Originally posted by mizzy25
i still dont think diana was as bad as they made out she terrible every week anyway. if people actually listened to that instead of saying shes different etc theyd see how bad she is

When she first entered the competition, I thought she may be good, because she had a unique style to her voice. But, the live shows have shown her to be quite useless in my view. She's completely out of tune, but it seems she can't put a foot wrong with the judges. She also appears to have a huge fanbase voting for her every week, so I expect she'll win anyway.

Tom · 23-11-2008, 12:24 PM

Quote:

X Factor was at the centre of a favouritism row last night after Alexandra Burke sang despite being ILL.

Alex, 20, has laryngitis - the same agonising throat condition that Diana Vickers was fighting a fortnight ago.

But while favourite Diana, 17, was ruled too sick to perform and given a "bye" - automatic entry to the next round - Alex was told she had to go on with last night's show.

Astonishingly it is being claimed that after Alex was diagnosed she was told to "keep it quiet" by production staff on the ITV1 show.

Close family friend Peter Brophy revealed how Alex was told not to make a fuss over her illness by the show's bosses.

Accusing The X Factor of favouritism, Peter said: "Alex has got the same illness as Diana but she has been told not to tell anyone.

"Alex was told to keep it under wraps that she was ill. They didn't give her a valid reason.

Source

Tom4784 · 23-11-2008, 01:11 PM

Please, if she had laryngitis she wouldn't be able to sing at all. I'm really getting sick of the blatant lies within the media now.

Arneldo · 23-11-2008, 01:14 PM

Well doctors, producers and Cheryl obviously felt she was well enough to preform. She got good comments and is safe. So, yeah.

Tom · 23-11-2008, 02:05 PM

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Originally posted by Dezzy
Please, if she had laryngitis she wouldn't be able to sing at all. I'm really getting sick of the blatant lies within the media now.

Obviously she has a milder form of it. Ben had it during series 3- he didn't skip a performance but was allowed to tell people.

Quote:

Originally posted by Arneldo
Well doctors, producers and Cheryl obviously felt she was well enough to preform. She got good comments and is safe. So, yeah.

Then why was she told to keep it quiet?

Billy · 23-11-2008, 02:57 PM

She was obviously well enough to perform, it was easy to see that. Diana wasn't, again it was easy to see that.

xERFx · 23-11-2008, 03:33 PM

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Originally posted by Billy21
She was obviously well enough to perform, it was easy to see that. Diana wasn't, again it was easy to see that.

exactly its any reason now for Diana to get bad press Alex performed well on the night and it was easy to see she WAS well enough

Annie · 23-11-2008, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dezzy
Please, if she had laryngitis she wouldn't be able to sing at all. I'm really getting sick of the blatant lies within the media now.

You would still be able to sing if it was a mild case