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Gamu Nhengu axed from X Factor over concerns with Visa?

Posted on October 5, 2010
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I’ve often sat and wondered whether shows like “The X Factor” were contrived off set. Do the judges and producers get together in a small comfortable room, glass of wine in hand and discuss the show before it airs?

There have always been controversies, shock eliminations and judges deciding to vote off a contestant for inane reasons but for me, Gamu’s omission from the final 12 has to be one of the very worse.

Who could forget Dannii Minogue’s comment on Danyl Johnson’s sexuality, footage of Simon Cowell and Osbourne to coach the contestants to argue with the judges, Osbourne and Walsh with tactical voting (no shock there) and Walsh threatening to walk out after Osbourne threw a glass of water over the leprechaun – publicity stunt anyone?!

It’s all about ratings and with Strictly doing well (despite Alesha Dixon!), it’s obvious the producers will do anything to keep people watching.

How can a singer, arguably one of the best in the competition, be left out of the final 12? Although I have a great deal of admiration for Cher Lloyd, both she and Katie Weissels performed poorly in the final audition. A Facebook campaign to reinstate Gamu is available for those who wish to complain!

It often amuses me how the judges claim during a live show sing off “I’m going to judge it on this one performance” – so what happened Cheryl? Were you nobbled? Were you told not to include Gamu in your top 3?

A source said: “It was made clear Gamu shouldn’t go through because of the visa. Cheryl didn’t have a say.”

Hundreds of viewers complained to ITV at the axing. The Mirror Reports

On Sunday, more than 16.2 million viewers – a record for this stage of The X Factor – saw Cheryl …

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The X Factor – Final 12 – what?!!!!

Posted on October 3, 2010
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The X Factor aired this evening; the final 32 became the final 12 courtesy of heart-breaking decisions from Dannii, Louis, Simon and Cheryl.

On the whole I think they got it just about right. Louis really didn’t have a great deal to choose from and more or less got it right – and I’m no fan of the little Irish leprechaun!

Dannii sitting at home in Australia made a wild card decision choosing Italian born Nicolo – why on earth did you pick him Dannii? Unbelievable decision and for once I didn’t agree with her top 3. Who’s going to vote for him? He is an unlikeable diva!

I’ll gloss over Simon’s top 3 as I really don’t have much of an opinion over the groups. I’m sure they’ll do ok and the young McFly wannabees (minus the instruments) will go far.

Over the last season or two I have really come to admire Cheryl Cole but I can’t help thinking she has made a huge, yes a HUGE mistake putting Katie Waissel through at the expense of Gamu Nhengu. Who is going to vote for the diva? She’s not exactly likeable! A drama queen hell-bent on making it to the top no matter how she gets there.

I just hope that with the “big twist” next week when 4 discarded hopefuls are given a second chance, the public will vote Gamu in.

That said, I was happy with Cheryl’s other two choices and think Cher Lloyd will prove to be a quirky addition to the show. Her tonsillitis was unfortunate but she was always going to make the final 12 – you could see that following her initial performance.

Disappointed with Gamu’s omission but the show must go on.

The Final 12

Boyband FYD, newly-formed 1 Direction…

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Good Morning San Francisco, it’s 7am and it’s a beautiful morning

Posted on September 11, 2010
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It’s been a very long week this week and I decided to take a well-earned night off from rowing in my gym and took time out to relax, read a book (Deadlock by Sean Black) and watch the very last big brother on Channel 4. Over the last few years, after being an avid Big Brother viewer I’ve been watching less and less – frustrated by an ever increasing amount of producer manipulation and the silly antics from Davina McCall.

With that in mind and the fact I’d given myself the night off I thought I had to watch at least some of the finale as it had at one time or another given me a few hours of entertainment over the years, especially Big Brother 5. I enjoyed it to a certain degree. It hadn’t changed, still contrived and predictable but in fairness the British public got it right – Brian Dowling was and is the ultimate housemate.

I woke up early this morning and I was out of the door by 7:05 am and on my way to the shops to collect a few essentials I couldn’t be bothered getting last night in the torrential rain and low level fog hanging over the mountain.

Now I’ve never been one to get sucked in to subliminal or clever marketing ploys, I am my own man. I know what I want and don’t need multi-million dollar commercials to tell me what that is. However, over the last few weeks a new Tropicana commercial has been airing, you know the one, set in the great city of San Francisco.

“Good Morning San Francisco, it’s 7am and it’s a beautiful morning”

If the Video fails to load then please visit the direct link to the Tropicana Video …

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Stars to be paid per dance in Strictly

Posted on July 19, 2010
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Interesting news coming from The Mirror newspaper today: Strictly Come Dancing stars will be paid per dance and not for the entire series. Kind of like an insentive to do well I guess?

If this turns out to be true then I like it, about time some of these Z list celebrities actually put some effort into the competition. I’m fed up of seeing celebrities like Andrew Castle and Fiona Phillips turn up for a few dances and take home huge appearance fees for very little work. This is a positive move BBC, positive.

The Mirror states that the stars competing could pocket as much as £100,000 if they reach the final and as little (I’d accept £10k any day!) as £10,000 if they bow out early.

Martina Hingis apparently received £50,000 for her one dance appearance last year, great things were expected from her but her lack of popularity with the British public culled any chances of a long run.

A show source said:

“This is a way of rewarding those who do well rather than paying one big lump sum. It makes sense and will act as a healthy ­incentive.”

Ali Bastian has backed the decision to reduce the number of celebrities on Strictly Come Dancing.

“Everyone was on their knees by the end last time. It’s a lot of stress to take if your body isn’t used to it,” she told The Sun

“Knocking a couple of weeks off will be good for everyone’s sanity.”

BBC chiefs are keen to recreate the success of last year’s series, which attracted up to 13 million viewers. They will raise the weekly budget from last year’s £400,000 to attract more stars.

Contestants signed up so far include Felicity Kendal (63), the Good Life actress, and former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe. …

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Bruce Forsyth set to return to Strictly?

Posted on July 14, 2010
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Bruce Forsyth struggled last year, he struggled the year before that and will if he returns struggle again this season. He’s 82 and let’s face it, past his prime! Don’t get me wrong,  he’s an ambassador for the BBC who, with the departure of Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley need all the stars they can afford to pay.  “I won’t be doing a Christine and leave the BBC“.

There have been numerous rumours since the last finale that big changes were afoot, talks of stars being axed, format changes and a change of presenters. We are still awaiting news on the later two but we do know for a fact that some of the stalwarts of Strictly Come Dancing have been axed from the main line-up.

Brian Fortuna has announced he is leaving the show following the decision to ask Ian Waite, Matthew Cutler, Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova to move aside and dance only professional routines leaving the way clear for new dancers to partner celebrities. It’s a kick in the teeth for the dancers and looks like popularity has nothing to do with the decision. The BBC are keen to make changes and changes they will make. Fortuna does have a gig so fans do not fear, you can see him partner Ali Bastian in the West End production of “Burn The Floor”.

Fortuna said:

“I really enjoyed working on Strictly over the years – loved the fans and loved all the people I got work with – but there are changes planned for the next season so I’ve decided not to return to the show,” he said.

“Both Ali and I are looking forward to seeing all our fans at the Shaftesbury Theatre.”

The three new male dancers have been named as Artem Chigvintsev, Jared …

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