7:00pm Monday 28th August 2006
By John Anson
I'VE resisted until now but, sad to say, this weekend I succumbed.
Yes, I watched X-Factor, the annual talent show that specialises in highlighting what little talent there actually is out there.
Thankfully we are still at the initial audition' stages in which every no-hoper who really wants to be famous gets their Andy Warhol moment.
As comedy value, the early stages of X-Factor are worth watching - as are Simon Cowell's pantomime expressions.
Then you get the occasional classic moment such as the Louis Walsh fan club organiser (total membership 45) who was in awe meeting her hero in the flesh - much to the other judges' amusement.
But the most interesting segment, which is a microcosm of the whole show, was the incident of Kylie's mum.
Kylie represented thousands of X Factor contestants who have been told by family and friends that they are really talented, when in fact they're not.
With typical frankness, the judges refused to put her through.
Cue Kylie's mum who burst into the studio to tell them they'd got it wrong.
Every credit to Simon Cowell for standing firm and telling the woman that it was people like her who were deluding their children and giving them false hope.
But then again, isn't that what shows like X Factor need?
If everyone realised they were talentless then the auditions wouldn't make for weeks of Saturday night viewing.
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