It’s very easy to be scornful and critical of TV shows such as ‘The X Factor’ so let’s get on with it! Shrewd X-Factor betting enthusiasts will know for themselves that stars are very rarely ‘discovered’ out of the blue. Most of today’s enduring entertainers came from a few years of hard work paying their dues in the studio and on stages in front of near empty theatres before being recognised as people with a genuine talent and commitment to their work.

ITV’s ‘The X Factor’ is largely a vehicle for the career development of the four judges and the enlargement of the bank account of the television company behind it. What’s more, the involvement of the public in the voting can only lead to more distortion of the result because they tend to bring in sentiment rather than a cool industry eye.

Having said that, the show can be fun and not without relevance to online betting. The four judges sponsor three each of the twelve finalists and so the outcome is as much a joust between them as it is the ‘artistes’. This year’s final three will battle it out for the top prize on Saturday although the operatic ‘Rhydian’ is far and away the favourite leaving the contest very much an issue of second place.

Each performer sings with a star and, dramatically, Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan will be reunited on stage for the first time in ages. Kylie sings with ‘Leon’ and it will be left to you to decide who has the best bum. Jason accompanies ‘Same Difference’ who are neck and neck with ‘Leon’ on most online betting sites. ‘Rhydian’ sings with the Welsh opera singer Katherine Jenkins in what promises to be the outstanding kitsch-fest of the year.