Has The X-Factor lost its way?

If TV talent shows don't find stars then is there any point in making them? Producers think so: do you?

So I interviewed Richard Holloway, executive producer of The X-Factor and, though most of it never made the final cut of the piece that appeared, I asked him whether or not it made a difference to audiences' enjoyment of the show, and indeed the show's credibility, that the eventual winner was a bit underwhelming and/or the stellar career that seemed so assured never really materialises. Holloway, perhaps unsurprisingly, said it didn't. With reference to last year's winner Leon Jackson, Holloway said "It'll be interesting to see how he does. It's been quite quiet for him. He had a huge hit with the first single after the final last year but I don't think it's reasonable to expect to find a Leona [Lewis, 2006's winner] every year. That's too big an ask."

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