X Factor 2008 - Week 8, Alexandra starting to lose favour in the Market

Week 7 was Take That week on X Factor 2008. Alexandra Burke gave the kind of performance we have perhaps come to expect and went safely through to Week 8 avoiding the dreaded bottom two sing off. Mentor Cheryl Cole would have been pleased.

Unfortunately though, Alexandra is starting to lose favour in the betting market. It is not thought that she can win the contest. Very early on, she was Favourite to win. She was soon overtaken by Diana Vickers and this week, has slipped to third favourite behind Simon Cowells, Eoghan Quigg. This does not look good.

Although a powerful singer, you have to compare Alexandra to the other acts in the contest. What makes her unique, what makes her stand out. This is maybe a problem. The others you could hear on the radio and identify, Alexandra is not so easy. I wish her well, but progress may now start to get a bit tricky.

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X Factor 2008 - Week 6, Alexandra Better Week by Week by Week

With performances like this it would not be remotely controversial if Alexandra Burke won the X Factor this year.

She was pure class this week. You can never predict the voting public at home these days, but thankfully the right decision was made and Alexandra went through to the next round.

Daniel Evans left the contest this week, he had experienced a good run and can be pleased with his progress.

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X Factor 2008 - Week 6, Diana staggers through

Respect has to be given to Diana Vickers in the X Factor Competition. She was looking good as the Favourite and then was struck down by severe Laryngitis. Unlucky is not the word.

Diana was forced to miss last week and this time, she was clearly still ill. Despite this Miss Vickers did a miraculous job. A very tough week for her to get through, but get through she did. Mentor Cheryl Cole will be mightily relived after losing Laura White last week.

With this performance of Coldplay's Yellow, Diana Vickers deservedly sails through to Week 7. Not only did she sing through the pain of Laryngitis, due to a last minute song change, she had hadly any rehearsal time. Simply amazing.

This Week was one to just survive and hopefully 7 more days can bring Diana to full recovery. The X Factor needs a unique singer like her.

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X Factor 2008 - Week 6, Which Mentor will win? The Current Odds !

The brightly lit path of the X Factor 2008 has been a bit controversial this year. Good acts that you think may have a chance of winning seem to quickly get shown the exit door. First Austin Drage, who didn't really put a foot wrong and then the following Week, the shock elimination of Second Favourite Laura White.

Who will go next? Who knows, the results at the moment seem completely random. Here is how the current market values each of the four mentor's chances of winning.

Cheryl Cole 4/11
Simon Cowell 5/1
Louis Walsh 5/1
Dannii Minogue 12/1

It's been a tough week for Cheryl Cole's acts. She unbelievably lost the talented Laura White and the unique Diana Vickers is still desperately trying to recover from Laryngitis. Despite all these problems, Cheryl is still quoted at odds-on to win. Cheryl should still do it, but at these odds is looking fragile, and it would be a brave person to take these on.

Dannii Minogue is the only Mentor to have all three acts left in the competition, but is quoted as the rank outsider at 12/1. Her secret weapon appears to be Daniel Evans, who has found some support with the voting public. To be fair, he is a long way off being the best act.

Simon Cowell has Eoghan Quigg and Louis Walsh, improving boyband JLS.

If Cheryl were to lose another act this week, then the X Factor would become very interesting indeed.

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X Factor 2008 - Week 6, Will Diana Vickers have to pull out of the Competition?

Due to severe Laryngitis, competition favourite, Diana Vickers was given a bye last week. This meant that although unable to perform, she was allowed to progress to the next round of the X Factor.

It is now Thursday and it is still very unclear whether Diana has recovered. We are just 2 days aways from the next Live round.

She has been to the Doctor's this week for a second check-up, but there is still no news of her progress. Such is Diana Vickers popularity, people are now asking,

Should Diana be given another week off if she is still too sick to sing?

No doubt, she would have got through any way, but is this exactly fair on the other entrants? The answer is probably no... it will be interesting to see how this one plays out.

It is an uncomfortable time for Mentor Cheryl Cole, who last week saw Laura White surprisingly leave and now faces the chance of Diana Vickers having to leave the show through illness.

Fingers crossed that Diana can comeback this Saturday. Last week she was certainly missed.

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X Factor 2008 - Major Shock! Laura White is Out !!!

Laura White is out of X Factor 2008. How on Earth did this happen? This is a major shock and probably one of the biggest upsets in the competition I have ever seen.

Second favourite and 3-1 to Win, Laura looked destined for the final, but sees her self go out as early as Week 5. On Mariah Carey song night she sang, "Endless Love", played the piano and surely deserved to go through to week 6.

All comments from the Judges were positive apart from those of Simon Cowell and yet after the viewers votes were finally counted, she found herself in the bottom two.

It perhaps goes to show, the X Factor isn't just about having an amazing singing voice. It's also about image, style, likability and overall popularity with the public. Despite being exceptionally talented, Laura has failed to connect with those watching at home which is a bit of a shame.

Rank outsider, Daniel Evans escaped yet again, and Laura was in the dreaded bottom two sing off with the awesome and massively underrated, Ruth Lorenzo.

As before, Ruth Lorenzo gave an awesome performance in the sing off. She sang Knocking On Heavens Door which was absolutely amazing. Laura sang, Somewhere Over the Rainbow.



To be honest, neither girl should have been voted out. This shock result shows, that in the X Factor, no one is safe.

Laura was faultless this week, but still goes out. Maybe Cheryl Cole's acts are not such a dead cert to win after all, with Laura White eliminated and Diana Vickers suffering from Laryngitis, the competition has been thrown wide open.

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X Factor 2008 - Week 5 - Diana Vickers, the Favourite, has laryngitis!

Shock! Horror! She is quoted as favourite to win, but Diana Vickers has lost her voice! In a singing competition, that's rather significant.

The 17 year old reportedly lost her voice on Tuesday after being struck down by laryngitis. It is so severe that medication has not enabled her to fully recover in time. A specialist has advised her not to sing. She has not taken part in any preparations for tonight's show.

Diana is still hoping to perform tonight, but it is probably best she takes advantage of the bye rule. If an act is struck down with illness so severe they can not perform properly, they are allowed to miss a week of the competition. I think that rule will come in nicely. It is simply not worth Miss Vickers taking the risk in a contest she has a very serious chance of winning. The potential rewards are huge.

We will see if she make the stage tonight, but I'm hoping not so we can see a fully repaired Vickers next week.

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X Factor 2008 - Eoghan Quigg, Can he beat Cheryl?

Eoghan Quigg represents Simon Cowell's last hope of winning The X Factor 2008. We are now into week 5 and Quigg's odds of winning are quoted at 6/1, the most likely person to win outside the dominance of Cheryl Coles's performers.

Week 4 saw Quigg perform, Could it be Magic.

Can Eoghan win the X Factor?

Well nothing is impossible, but such is the strength and diversity of the five female solo vocalists left in, it is highly improbable.

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X Factor - Week 5 - How is Each Mentor fairing ???

Simon Cowell is currently 6/1 to win.

Four weeks in and he has already lost two acts. Scott Bruton in Week 3 and Austin Drage this week. Eoghan Quigg is his last hope.

Can he do it? Well it doesn't look good, but of the male acts left, Eoghan is the most favoured at 6/1. Simon's main aim must be to get him to the final. That would be a great achievement in a very difficult year.


Louis Walsh just has one act left and is 8/1 to win.

His Boyband, JLS, are getting better every week and one feels there is an outside glimmer of hope after an awful start for Louis losing two acts in as many weeks. The Glimmer of hope is a fairly faint one however.

JLS are also quoted at 8/1 to win the contest.



Mentor, Dannii Minogue has all 3 of her acts still in the X Factor Competition, but they are the least favoured acts.

Rachel Hilton, Ruth Lorenzo and Daniel Evans at odds of 20/1, 25/1 and 66/1. It is unlikely that Daniel Evans can survive much longer.

Dannii is the rank outsider to be victorious at 10/1.



Cheryl Cole is seemingly the run away favourite this year. She has all 3 acts left in, and they are the best acts. She is the short priced favourite at 1/4 odds on.

She is mentoring Diana Vickers, Laura White and Alexandra Burke at odds of 6/4, 3/1 and 7/2.

It is hard to see anyone other than Cheryl Cole being the winning Mentor this year...

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X Factor 2008 - Week 5, Odds to Win

Week 4 was a bit of a shock result with the exit of Austin Drage. Will he ever be seen again? Unknown.. such is the thin line between success and obscurity.

Here is how the final 8 acts fair in the competition.

Diana Vickers 6/4
Laura White 3/1
Alexandra Burke 7/2
Eoghan Quigg 6/1
J L S 8/1
Rachel Hylton 20/1
Ruth Lorenzo 25/1
Daniel Evans 66/1

Diana Vickers remains the favourite to win. Her odds are now even shorter at 6/4. Clear daylight has developed between Cheryl Cole's acts and the chasing pack. Not only are they still first, second and third favourites in the market, they are also strong favourites. Diana Vickers, Laura White and Alexandra Burke will be very difficult to beat.

Ruth Lorenzo still seems overpriced at a huge 25/1 with Daniel Evans the rank outsider.

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X Factor 2008 - Week 4 - Who will be Eliminated ?

Week 4 is Disco Week on the X Factor 2008. Here is how the betting market views each acts chances of being voted out the competition.

Daniel Evans 8/13
Ruth Lorenzo 4/1
Rachel Hylton 6/1
J L S 11/1
Eoghan Quigg 14/1
Austin Drage 25/1
Alexandra Burke 25/1
Laura White 100/1
Diana Vickers 100/1

Daniel Evans seems a dead cert to go out. He is odds on at 8/13. With the talented Ruth Lorenzo and Rachel Hylton next behind him, I'm afraid I'm inclined to agree. So strong are this years acts, its hard to envisage any other outcome.

It's tough to guess who will feature in the bottom two sing off against Daniel this week, but Cheryl Cole's acts should be safe. Burke, White and Vickers are all rank outsiders to go.

Group mentor, Louis Walsh, will be praying once again his sole remaining act manages to stay in. If they land in the bottom two, this is the one act that Daniel Evans perhaps has a chance of beating.

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X Factor - Week 4 - Who will Win?

This years X Factor competition broadcast on ITV, so far, has been one of the best ever. Last week Simon Cowell lost Scott Bruton and Cheryl Cole's three female acts still seem pretty much invincible. Louis of course, is left with just one remianing act who will struggle to make the final in a particular strong year.

Week 4 is themed Disco Night. Here is how the market currently favours each acts chances of winning the entire X Factor contest.

Diana Vickers 7/4
Laura White 7/2
Alexandra Burke 5/1
Austin Drage 7/1
J L S 8/1
Eoghan Quigg 8/1
Rachel Hylton 10/1
Ruth Lorenzo 20/1
Daniel Evans 33/1

Cheryl Cole's girls stubbornly remain 1st, 2nd and 3rd favourites to win making the Girls Aloud mentor 2/5 on to have the eventual winner.

Why Ruth Lorenzo remains a whopping 20/1 to win, to me, is a bit of a mystery. Her last two performances have been fantastic. Whilst I do not think she will be the overall winner, 8/1 would probably be more realistic. JLS seem a little short at 8/1.

Strong favourite to win now is Diana Vickers, way ahead in the market at 7/4. There is still a long way to go of course and anything can happen along the way. I thought Diana would struggle with last weeks Big Band night, but she took it in her bare-footed stride. I have similar reservations about her unique voice being able to handle Disco, but being the potential star that she is, she'll probably prove me wrong again. Hopefully this is the case as she is a joy to listen to.

Daniel Evans could find it hard to stay in this week.

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X Factor 2008 - Week 3 - Ruth Lorenzo Back in Business

If anyone can threaten Cheryl Cole's acts dominance of this years X Factor competition, then surely it must be the rapidly improving Ruth Lorenzo.

Facing the bottom two sing-off last week, she then found a totally different gear. A mind-blowing performance of Purple Rain, and then this week, the classic, Summer Time.

A fantastic performance, it would have been a travesty if she had gone out last week. A class act all round, the odds on Ruth Lorenzo to win surely must shorten come Monday. Before the Saturday's week 3 performances, she was in fact quoted as second favourite to go out! Incredible, how wrong they were.

Daniel Evans and Scott Bruton battled in the bottom two instead. When the music stopped, it was goodbye to former Pontins blue coat, Bruton.

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X Factor 2008 - Week 3 - Diana Vickers 2-1 Favourite

This years X Factor contest is the highest quality one to date. After last weeks great performance of Man In the Mirror, Diana Vickers has moved from fourth favourite to win, to 2-1 Favourite! Given the standard of some of the other acts in the contest, this is a massive achievement.

It's still early days of course, but Simon Cowell said,"... I actually think you may be the one to beat."

Diana Vickers has her own unique style and Mr Cowell could well be right. One suspects there could be a few twists and turns in this competition yet to come, but Diana Vickers is looking like a major contender.

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X Factor 2008 - Who will win? Week 3 odds

So, who will win 2008's X Factor competition. Here is how the market currently values each acts chances of success.

Diana Vickers 2/1
Laura White 3/1
Alexandra Burke 5/1
Austin Drage 6/1
Eoghan Quigg 7/1
J L S 9/1
Rachel Hylton 16/1
Scott Bruton 25/1
Ruth Lorenzo 33/1
Daniel Evans 66/1

Diana Vickers has become the favourite to win which makes mentor, Cheryl Cole's acts, now first, second and third favourite to win. This has never happened before in the competition and if Cheryl does not win, it will be a major shock.

Louis Walsh's sole remaining Group act, JLS, are looking vulnerable at 9-1 and Ruth Lorenzo is way overpriced at 33-1. Granted, she did finish in the bottom two last week, but her survival performance of Purple Rain was out of this world.

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X Factor 2008 - Girls Aloud sing The Promise

If Louis Walsh had Award winning and record breaking, Girls Aloud in his groups category, then he would stand a lot better chance of winning The X Factor 2008. Instead he has JLS.

On this weeks X Factor show, Girls Aloud performed their new song, The Promise, live.

Must have been a bit daunting for Cheryl Cole, singing live in this sort of highly judged and critically analyzed competition, but the girls did well. I would have given it a 10 out of 10, based solely on the dresses alone. :o)

Take a look at Dannii Minogue. I'm not sure if she enjoyed it or not. Maybe there's something going on that we do not know about.

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X-Factor 2008 - Mentor Cheryl Cole, a dead cert to win

As we approach the start of week 2's Live Shows, never has there been a stronger mentor favourite to win than Cheryl Cole. Unusually in the competition, she is presented with 3 quality acts all more than capable of winning. Cole has really hit the jackpot with this group and she is already quoted at odds of 4/7 on to win. That is absolutely astounding! This is Cheryl's first series as a mentor and she must be loving it. She is really going to have to go out of her way if she wants to lose this.

Her Acts are Laura White, Alexandra Burke and Diana Vickers who are ranked 1st, 2nd and 4th in the market respectively. Not only has Cheryl got the best acts by far, but she has also the luxury of 3 gifted singers with their own unique styles. I suppose there's still a small chance Cheryl will not win, but by the same token, there's also a small chance that I win the National Lottery 3 weeks running.

Fourth favourite, Diana Vickers. More than capable of winning and probably would have done if she was in the contest last year,

Second Favourite, Alexandra Burke. Singing a rather obvious song here in week 1, but showing she has the style and appeal of the incredible Leona Lewis who won 2 years ago.



And my personal favourite and also the listed Favourite, Laura White. Just incredible for week 1.



Never has one Mentor's acts been as strong as this and is pretty much unlikely that they will again. This is like a Football Tournament between Brazil, Chad, Kenya and Partick Thistle. Who will win?

The voting public do not usually favour strong favourites and the past has seen them vote against the trend, but surely they can not vote against all three. Laura White, Alexandra Burke or Diana Vickers should be the eventual winner.

Tonight, mentor Louis Walsh will surely be fearing losing 2 acts in as many weeks.

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The X-Factor 2008

And so, with the proper First live round complete, The 2008 X-Factor Competition is at last underway. Even at this early stage, it seems as if new mentor, Cheryl Cole is going to have easy victory on her hands. She has three of the best acts by far in the contest and is quoted at odds-on with the Bookies to get one of them the golden prize.

This year the mentors and their categories are as follows,

Simon Cowell - The Boys
Cheryl Cole - The Girls
Dannii Minogue - The Over 25's
Louis Walsh - The Groups

The Groups this year are particularly poor in comparison and Louis hasn't got a hope in hell of winning this years X-Factor. Two of his acts, Bad Lashes and Girlband found themselves in the bottom 2 of week 1 and Bad Lashes were voted off. In a poor category, Bad Lashes were probably Louis' best act. It would not be surprising if he lost all his acts within 3 weeks, but... something strange may happen to keep one of them in of course.

Here is Bad Lashes last performance which saw them booted out.



I personally thought they were better than Girlband and deserved to be kept in. Their first performance was not atrocious by any means and it is very likely that they would have improved.

This Saturday it is Michael Jackson night. This should favour Louis' groups, in particular JLS, but one suspects Mr Walsh will end up one act lighter again.

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