is it a singing competition?

No it's a competition to see who can throw a plate-shaped thing as far as possible.

Sorry.

Lou is good on this one

Without a doubt yes IMO.

It is a popularity contest for people who can sing.

It's a singing contest where popularity helps.

The best-selling solo recording artists are Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson and Madonna. 

Does this mean these are the best three singers/vocalists the world has ever known? 

Do any better singers than those three exist? 

Or is there more to it than just "the voice"?

Squares:

IMO

NO

YES

YES

People will naturally vote 'the best' though and say for arguements sake it was Leona or Same Difference who would you vote for?  I don't vote myself but if I did it would be the best singer everytime.  I'm not going to change my mind Squares sorry if that offends.

Not aimed at you at all.  Just my response to GTL's discussion thread.

Squares

Seem to remember you backed Joe mainly last year though could be mistaken.  Who you fancy this year specifically?

Who do you fancy Lou ?

A1

Want to have a look at them on Saturday as I'm wondering who else will come in if any before I make my choice.  Have laid one of 'the big boys' to lose £1500 already though so I hope I'm right!

ok, Godd luck

Good , even

Have laid one of 'the big boys' to lose £1500 already though so I hope I'm right!

are you gonna tell us now which one you've laid or just after one of them drifts on Sunday?

LOL hf!

Hel:

I like to think people on here think I'm honest.  I have HONESTLY laid one of the more fancied runners to lose about £1500.  I'm sure they'll still be in the competition after week 1 and may well shorten however I'm hoping they don't ultimately win it.  I don't get to see the show as a rule on a Saturday night so will catch up on Sunday afternoon.  I will then let you know who it is I've laid.

why wait?  the money's down, you've snaffled the value, might as well share the wealth?

Gym

I know you love to try and trip me up but if I tell the truth then you never will.

I'm not saying at the moment because I don't want to give any clues as to the act I do fancy.  If I tell you who I've laid it only leaves 11 possibles who I will back.  OK?

You have already placed your bet so why not just tell us now?

I like to think people on here that I am a sex god who has slept with Kelly Brook but I doubt many do.

Here is your chance to show you are an honest geezer and declare the bet you have had.

So far I have only had :-

£15 Tobias Sumpton @ 33/1 (shrewdie me)
£20ew John Adeleye @ 25/1 1/4 123
£5 Wagner @ 250/1

Your turn.

Helmuthian:

Another trying to trip me up ........... don't know why.

See my thread of 14.17 above.  I'm sure the act I've laid will still be in the competition next week but I hope they don't ultimately win it.

Nothing wrong with your smaller bets.  Good luck to you.

not really.  you won't tell us who you've layed because you think the other 11 contestants will shorten up on the back of it and you'll miss the price on your chosen one?  okay then....

good luck with whatever you decide to claim you've done.

Gym

Please answer HONESTLY:

Do you believe me when I tell you I have laid one of the acts to lose about £1500?

i'm not sure.

i find it hard to understand why you wouldn't want to disclose who it is.  so i'm leaning towards no.

to be honest, i'm not that fussed if you have layed them or not.

Haven't I explained that I don't want to say as it will be one less to consider who I will be backing which I don't want to say yet as I'm waiting to see the whole field and there could be more runers and riders still to come.  Why am I happy to tell you after the first week when there's still 10 weeks or so to go if I'm lying?

I have HONESTLY laid one of the acts to lose £1500.  I'm sure you aren't bothered who the hell I do/don't fancy but please at least believe I'm telling the truth.

Will you be doing an "ignore list " this year Lou ?

A1

Already started.  I'm never rude to anyone and appreciate their view but if they're rude to me and won't appreciate my view being just as good as theirs I won't have anything to do with them.  What more can I do but to ignore them.  Shame really.

Let me get this right, you won't tell them who you have layed as that will leave 11 possibles, one of whom you will back and you think these will know which one of the 11 it will be because of that?

fun isn't it JHF?

It certainly is mucker.

Johnny

Yes it will mean I can only be backing 1 of 11 rather than 1 of 12.  Nobody's bothered who I'm backing so what's the problem with me letting you know who I've laid afer this weekend?  Someone can bring this to the top again if they want and i will gladly answer.

Tell me Johnny do you believe I've laid one for £1500 yes or no?

Cowell confirmed it is not a singing contest when he saved Jedward over Lucy in last year's contest.

Guy

So why every single week will one of the judges say 'it's a singing competition'?

For mugs like you.

SCowell didn't seem to mention singing in his pre-show interviews regarding what he was looking for

No more sob stories, and more dance routines.  "About people's real honesty and personality.  It's about them and their stage presence."

LOL GT!!

and:

XF is going to be more like Glee Factor when it returns.  It's the future.

SCowell looking for charisma, personality, being unique, entertaining . . .

Guy:

No need to say that.  I answer you civilly and that's all I ask of you.  I won't answer you anymore.  Sorry I have my own opinion.

Good luck with your bets.

Squares:

Ok you think what you want and I'll do the same how's that.

I'm just adding comments to GTL's "is it a singing competition" discussion thread. 

It's not all about you or aimed at you at all.

Fair enough

L.M.T.B -

1 - you sound like a right ****

2 - who gives a **** if you have laid something/someone for 1500 quid?

3 - (further to above) I seriously doubt you have.

4 - 1500 is obviously a lot of money to you (the way you keep going on about it) So congratulations for saving so many doll payements/Mcdonalds Gold Stars if indeed you have got involved.

aylewit joining the ignore list 1.01

please god let that be true Gym.

McElderry will, naturally, be making an appearance during this year's live shows, so he has the chance to get a standing ovation from Cowell and be lauded for being 'world class' - just prior to his album release coincidentally.
Ditto Cheryl Cole who will be releasing her new single, Louis's boys Westlife, Leona, Burke, JLS, etc etc... X Factor is a platform for Cowell and his cronies to steal money from stupid, gullible people with zero music taste and the inability for independent thought - hence they believe everything Cowell tells them.

aylewit joining the ignore list 1.01

For that outburst he may achieve the double ignorability of not being informed of his ignoredom.

aylewit

No problem.  Of course £1500 is a fair amount I won't deny that but I'm not on the dole, don't work for McDonald's etc so you're wrong there.

I won't answer you anymore.  Good luck with your bets.

lou - are you by any chance jamie archer, and using the 1500 quid you got from the gig at st anne's?

Gym

No I'm not and who knows how much he will get for the gig?  I only GUESSED about £1500.

Sorry to disappoint you again.

Lou as much as I think you are a star you are doing your 'credibility' no favours at all.

All I ask is that before saturdays show you say who you have laid, the amount is irrelevant to me as we all bet what we can afford to lose.  If you do not tell us but suddenly on Sunday say you have laid the person who has drifted like a barge then no-one will believe you and you will just be subjecting yourself to the ridicule that seems to be so upsetting to you.

To use that we may guess out of the other 11/12/15 acts who you are going to back is possible the lamest excuse I have heard since Gary Glitters 'I thought that 8 year old was 17'!

I want to believe you Lou, honestly I do but as with I would like to bet everyone else thinks I am firmly in the Billy Bullshine camp for now!

Hel

Fair enough and thanks for a civil rerply.

Because I've laid one of the real fancied runners I very very very much don't think they'll drift.  They've drifted a fraction since I laid them a couple of days ago and I could take about £15 now I think but big deal!  I would certainly put them in my top three or four but I'm obviously hoping they don't actually go on and win it.  I'm not saying out of the other 11/12/15 acts you'll guess who I want to bacK I'm just saying I don't want to give any clue at all.  I will gladly tell anyone who wants to know who I have laid after this week's show.  That's not asking much is it.

I MAY not even back one particular act this year as I think it's very very open and could almost make a claim for all 12 that's why I've started by laying an act that I don't think will quite win it .......... hopefully!  Also it means anyone coming onto the show as 'wild card's' are all on my side too.

Should open a market on this

Lou has laid...

1 Direction - 1.5
Aiden - 6
Cher - 9
Matt - 18
Rebecca - 30
The Field - 30

Place your bets!

mathematically I cant see how it can be any of them

2000/240 please

To be honest Lou I couldn't give two shíts if you've layed someone for 10k, just do yourself a favour and stop being an absolute bobby's helmet about it all.

Johnny

What does that mean?

It means don't spout on about laying people for X amount then say "I'm not telling you until after the first show". It just makes you looks ridiculous in all honesty.

Why does it?  I've laid one and will let you know after the first week.  Hardly waiting till the final two is it?

Ok fair enough, agree to disagree, I'm not getting into a mass debate over it.

Fair enough

If it was a singing competition storm would have a great chance but has he got a chance of winning,not a prayer image is more important,ive laid the field bar matt,the young boy band,and aiden.

Hand:

Fair enough we'll see.  I can't really discount any of them myself.  The strongest field ever IMO. No wonder th favourite's a roffe.