X Factor SHOCK: Same Difference now in second place

The sickening siblings are making a late dash

Everyone knows that Christmas is a depressing time. Watching your elderly nan slurping turkey through a straw, paper crowns doing little to mask the lunchtime tension as rival factions from the family put on crocodile smiles. Television is the one saving grace. And Same Difference might ruin all that by dominating Christmas Top of The Pops.

Just a day before the grand final, the foul twosome have snuck ahead of trembling Leon in the betting stakes, and with Cowell behind the wheel ferociously shining the most rancid of turds, he could pull off a miracle.

Already he is the most successful judge, with two previous winners from three (Steve and Leona), and Same Diffs have already equaled the best finishing spot for singing families (on a par with Journey South, the blank-eyed would-be-killers from series two). With little tots bouncing up and down to their revoltingly sugary pop songs, floating voters might just think "ah what the heck" and give them a fighting chance. Oh God.

 

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X Factor final: An epic battle between good and awful

Finally it's here, after roughly thirty-eight years...

On Gordon Ramsey’s sweary show this week he generously volunteered his genius to save a hideous Nottingham curry house. His solution? Bring in London’s best curry chef. Why didn’t they think of that before? Amongst the swearing, however, was an excellent piece of management speak: “Ignore the positives. Only listen to the negatives.” The X Factor finalists would do well to heed this advice, instead of clinging to praise like sailors to driftwood. Rhydian has nothing to fear, but someone needs to tell Leon to butch up or he’s going to open his mouth on the night of the finals and nothing will come out. And Same Difference – now that only the Nazis are harder to like than you, kindly take advantage of the glut of illegal weapons on the streets of Britain, and do the right thing.

The Contestants

Rhydian
Supposedly he’s had it in the bag since day one, but people said the same of Gareth Gates (runner up, Pop Idol). Don’t forget, G4 (runners-up, series one) have already trodden the classical path and didn’t quite hit the top spot. Even so, the most likely winner, this week soaring alongside Katherine Jenkins.

Leon
Judging by his nerves during the semi-final, this week could see Leon forsaking song to showcase a live panic attack instead. His singing partner will be Kylie, which could score him a portion of the valuable gay vote. Could still spring an upset.

Same Difference
Duetting this week with Jason Donovan (presumably doing something from Joseph, or a reworking of the love song Especially For You) their success hinges less on their performances and more on how much the audience wants Simon to win. It’s his show after all.

Any other business

Simon is by far the most successful judge, with his act winning two of the three shows so far (Steve, series 1, Leona, series 3), while Dannii is a first-timer.

Only once have two members from the same group featured in the final (last year, Leona and Ray) and the majority mentor won. That’s good news for Minogue (Leon and Rhydian).

Only one group (G4) has ever made it to the final two. 2005 featured the deeply sinister Journey South expressing their blank-eyed rock in the final three - they were the most successful siblings so far.

Rhydian sang You’ll Never walk Alone in the semi-finals – exactly as runner-up Ray did last year.

All the winners so far have already tasted fame before the show. Leona had already cut a record with a hip producer called Marley J. Wills. Shayne had made it to the final thirty on Popstars: the rivals, and Steve had come runner-up on the Big Big Talent Show. Of this rabble, Rhydian auditioned for Any Dream Will Do, and Sarah (Same Difference) was in a kids show called Genie in the House. Leon, however, only learnt to sing in January.

Lucky/unlucky songs

Smile by Charlie Chaplin and Somewhere Over the Rainbow are lucky songs in the live show stages. Steve Brookstein (winner, series 1) had a crack at Smile, and Leona (winner, series 3) and Shayne (winner, series 2) both sang Over the Rainbow. Whoever gets Over the Rainbow (featured in every series so far) could do it.

 

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X Factor: Sharon Osbourne tips the winner

See who the least successful X Factor judge is getting behind

"Of course he's going to win it."

Sharon Osbourne speaks to Graham Norton about a certain Welshman with operatic leanings and stupid stupid hair.

 

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X Factor News: Niki punched in the face by reality

A week ago she could dream of stardom... not any more

Following her eviction at the weekend, Niki has been drafted in to perform at Jasper Carrot's Rock With Laughter show at the NEC in Birmingham.

She will be taking to the stage alongside Jasper Carrott, Chris de Burgh, Jamelia, Jack Dee, Dame Edna Everage, Shakin' Stevens, Jo Brand, Tap Dogs, The Manfreds and Ray Quinn.

Welcome to showbiz, Niki, might as well keep your coat on.

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X Factor News: Kylie and Jason climb aboard

They used to be lovers, now they're rivals... in a way

For her last roll of the dice, Dannii has called on her far more appealing sister to give Leon a helping hand in the final. If you thought he was nervous last week, just wait until you see the eighteen-year-old Scot trembling and drooling all over a middle-aged Australian woman who is almost technically a midget.

A hunch suggests the pair will be singing Kids (the song Kylie did with Robert Williams).

And, not one to be left of any bandwagon (albeit a retro Neighbours one), Simon has bundled Jason Donovan into a corner and demanded he sing along with Same Difference - surely a new low for a man who has experienced many many lows. They will presumably be doing either something from Joseph, or a creepy version of Especially For You.

 

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X Factor: Can Same Difference really win?

Revolting from the start, yet a victory for the siblings would delight far out stoners around the country

Simon is by far the most successful judge, boasting two of the three winners so far (Steve, series one; Leona, last year), and with the groups the only category never to win, he could be on the way to completing a full-house of victories (over-25, under-25, group). He's up against Dannii Minogue, a novice, so come big final night, his better understanding of how the show (HIS show) works could prove vital. Portions of voters would love to see Same Difference (7/1) win, either because they are children or because they are spliffed up students desperately seeking an irony fix. And with phone votes massively down following all the scandals, the voting public could conceivably cause an upset. Much depends on how popular Simon Cowell really is.

 

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X Factor GOSSIP: Rhydian is a bad boy

Forget the butter wouldn't melt visage, the bloke's a sex maniac (kind of)

Having an in-house affair could work wonders for a contestant, what with the general public loving a romantic tale, and Rhyds (2/7), it seems, has been doing his utmost to grease his operatic hands into one of Same Difference's (7/1) trousers. The blonde one, Sarah, to be precise. "She has become very close to Rhydian. They have a good laugh and share the same Christian values. They have been inseparable," a pal told the People. And, should Simon continue his polishing a turd miracle, the loved-up couple could be going toe-to-toe in the final. Then God will decide.

 

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X Factor BIG NEWS: Website cracks the code!

Chickendinner sees the future of X Factor

A couple of weeks back, Chickendinner finally cracked the all-important X Factor code. And, with Hope going at the weekend, it was bang on the money. This week, Same Difference (12/1). The final: Rhydian (1/3) and Leon (5/1).

TWO WEEKS AGO The Dinner said this:

This year's last six echoes the 2006 final six which boasted (in descending order): Leona (the HUGE favourite - hence Rhydian, the HUGE favourite), Ray (he was from the same group as Leona - Leon is from the same group as Rhydian), Ben (over-25 same as Niki), MacDonald Brothers (tacky siblings just like Same Difference), Eton Road ('glamourous' singing group - Hope), and Robert (over-25 and soulful - Beverley). If history repeats itself, and it seems to be, expect Beverley to be eliminated on Saturday.

So far, Popbet money has been made from Beverley's departure, then Hope's, and this week the big brains should be cashing in on Same Difference's departure. Want a slice of the pie? Then get right on it!

 

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X Factor news: Leon making a dash

Could this be the biggest face-off since stuttering Gareth Gates eyeballed Will Young?

For weeks now the judges have been telling Leon that he is going to be the “dark horse of the competition”, which seems a bit silly now that they’re in the semi-finals. When exactly does a “dark horse” stop being dark and just become an everyday horse, like Rhydian or Niki? And when are they going to get rid of those smiling donkeys that keep ruining Saturday nights with their stupid stupid songs?

Rhydian (1/3)
Still the favourite, but his alarming lack of sex appeal (gay?/not gay?) might yet drive the more hormonal teenagers in the direction of Leon - more steamy, boyish, and rampantly heterosexual (he’s been having it off with a member of Hope, apparently). It’s not in the bag yet.

Leon (4/1)
Now building up a head of steam in the competition, Leon no longer resembles a terrified hostage doing karaoke at gunpoint, and the judges are starting to lavish him with praise. Should he continue to improve, everyone will be on ‘big upset’ alert.

Niki (7/1)
A great singer from the start, Niki’s consistency has made her boring.
She needs to prove her worth, and with the contestants choosing their own songs next week, she would be wise to peruse Whitney Houston’s back catalogue.

Same Difference (12/1)
Fast forward ten years and Same Difference could make for an interesting “Where are they now…” documentary – of course, by then they’ll both be furious alcoholics, tearing down billboards, shouting at geriatrics, slurring Wham lyrics in family pubs to the muffled sound of children crying in the background. As for the present, forget about it!

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X Factor News: Winning song says so much

Might the bosses have let slip the winner without realising?

News filters through that the first single for the X Factor winner will be a remake of When You Believe by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston - a song hideously unsuited to gay/not gay Rhydian.

In fact, of all the singers in the competition it is clearly most suited to Niki, who is the only female in there with lungs big enough to take on the big guns.

Might they know something we don't? After all, the producers of the show will have access to information on the weekly phone votes.

Something stinks, and it's not just Leon's finger.

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X Factor Winner: It's not all about Rhyds

Leon and Niki look good too...

Regardless of her reputation as a ballsy music woman, Sharon Osbourne exhibited a frightening lack of much-needed cojones on Saturday night when she opened the final two up to the public vote. Her one job left of the show was to act as the final word on the contestant’s fates, and she couldn’t even do that right – a spent force. But which of this little lot will be demanding free entry into clubs come the new year?

Rhydian
The front runner, he might be slightly too Aryan for left-wing England, so nothing is set in stone. With less people to vote for, closet Niki/Leon fans could start plundering in, and Operatic Dolph Lundgren might just lose out.

Niki
Has suffered on silly theme nights like Disco Week and Big Band Week, because she is a soaring ballad kind of girl, nothing more. As the fads disappear, she could set pulses racing.

Leon
Should there be a big upset Leon will provide it. No one expected whimpering Gareth Gates to lose Pop Idol having been the big favourite from the beginning, but then Will Young muscled in and pipped it. Could yet be found steamrollering through swish London bars, him one end, Gaffney/Best/Danan at the other. One to watch.

Same Difference
The joke has worn off now, leaving just an empty pair of gurning dimwits performing upsetting new versions of old songs. Probably now even too “light entertainment” for Butlins, they should refashion themselves as creepy performance artists by doing their usual act but with a waxwork of Michael Jackson holding an axe in the background. Won’t win.

Hope
Have been in the bottom two far too many times to mount a surprise attack (only Chico has survived more). With Phoebe the main one, the other girls are becoming increasingly glum and moody. This week expect them to split the vocals, then split the show.

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X Factor: Who's next for the axe?

Might Hope (aka Phoebe and the Woo Woo Girls) be in trubs?

There are six acts left, and this week they're going to be singing sad love songs intended to make you cry. But which one of these massive twerps will be sobbing like they've just downed a bottle of gin and watched Mr Holland's Opus come late Saturday evening?

Hope
With Cowell overruled so they can sing their own song (Hurt, by Aguilera) and their stylist on hold for a week so they can dress themselves, Hope could be in trouble. Rumours of infighting erupted when Charlie (dinky mum-of-one) shrieked something angry about not wanting to be part of a band called "Phoebe and the Woo Woo Girls" (Phoebe is the lead singer). And with two visits to the bottom two so far, it could be a case of three strikes and out (Voices With Soul, series one; The Conway Sisters, series two).

Beverley
Also on seriously unsteady ground, the whole big soul diva thing has been done to death - Brenda/Rowetta (both came fourth). Hence she is old hat. Simon is becoming increasingly unimpressed, and she lacks any sex appeal. Bottom two?

Leon
The trembling lip, the relentlessly sad tales about his squalid little life - what's not to love about tragic Leon? With Rhydian as the only other male for girls to coo over, he could be safe thanks to the hormonal vote.

Same Difference
Each year has seen an infuriatingly bad act survive until the later stages - notably The MacDonald Brothers (fourth, last year). With Hope looking the most likely group for the chop, perhaps next week will be their time to go?

Niki
Big-bosomed and strong of voice, Niki is the only contender for Rhydian's crown.

Rhydian
Stoical, weird, sexless - Rhydian is in it to win it. Safe as the proverbial houses.

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