Why the X Factor has gone too far #ExpolitingPeople

The X-Factor, with its comedy acts, acid-tongued judges and brutal cuts, has crushed people’s dreams since its inception in 2004. Who hasn’t watched the first auditions and laughed at people singing to their cats, whilst insisting that ‘it must be a dare, it must be!’ Who didn’t laugh at Wagner? It’s hard to bear in mind, or care, that it probably wasn’t a dare and that they have genuine hopes of being successful – however misguided. If you thought Louis Walsh laughing hysterically as someone performed was uncomfortable, you haven’t seen anything yet.

Susan Boyle’s massively underreported mental health issues should have been a warning signal for producers of talent shows, but, instead, they’ve decided to go even further with the addition of ‘judges’ seats’, a process where each judge has six seats to fill, contestants are forced to vie for places.

Now, this was fine until it became apparent that judges are allowed to ‘swap’ contestants, so those sitting comfortably could be uprooted. The music industry is a tough place, sure, but I am reluctant to believe that artists have worked hard for a contract, been promised one and then have had it ripped up infront of them – infront of millions.

When you add in the ‘swap, swap’ chants from the audience and the open discussion of a candidate’s weaknesses infront of them, it makes very uncomfortable viewing. Hannah Sheares, only 17, had already been forced to get rid of her band mates at first auditions, but was still booted out. I challenge you to find an hour of TV that includes more tears - one Twitter user said: “I’m actually not watching the X Factor anymore… Why is it so cruel all of a sudden??? #NoNeed #ExpolitingPeople”.

It doesn’t stop there. Not only are the seats controversial, but even the judges houses stage has upped its cruel-factor. Putting aside the fact that several contestants had been through to the stage before, the producers have added a wonderful new feature where unsuccessful applicants are filmed telling family members the bad news.

You’ve not seen awkward, or unnecessary, until you’ve watched a young boy come through the door to a packed living room of expectant friends and family and apologise for not getting through. Cue them jumping up and doing the best they can to console a sobbing teenage boy whilst being filmed. What’s worse is that in some cases it was clear that family members were expecting the news to be a joke. With a cameraman there, who can blame them?

Twitter wasn’t pleased about this either: “And now the x factor is filming people telling their families they didn’t get through? This and the new bootcamp is just cruel”.

Talent shows by their nature will always be cruel, particularly when they involve children or teenagers, but the X-Factor seems to have gone out of its way to ensure vulnerable contestants are kicked when they are down. Over, and over, and over again. As long as the viewing figures are still high, they’ll keep trying to outdo themselves, and it will only be after tragedy happens that something is done.

By Lauren Cope.