X-Factor mark II

Blakeborough

I know its probably overkill to write two posts in one day, but I really needed to rant about X Factor again. Having told a group of pretty dire and untalented yet mildly attractive youths that they would have to go home from boot camp, Louis Walsh 'suddenly' (note my cynicism ITV. Staged? Never.) decided that he wanted them all to have another chance and that they would have 24 hours to make themselves into a boy band and a girl band. I'm sure that Walsh's unusual insistance on a boy band which would no doubt end up under his expert tutiledge was just incidental.
When it came around to the auditions, it probably came as a surprise to no-one that both 'bands' were rather good, and seemed to have had considerably more preparation time than 24 hours. Of course they were voted as the best things since sliced bread and so went through.
I wonder whether the judges already know who the winner is going to be, as I notice that you see very little of the said person until the very last stages. Ooh, I do so love a conspiracy so I kind of hope so!
Oh, and Dannii? Don't try to be a bitch, it really doesn't wash when you have tears in your eyes during some of your more cutting remarks. We all know you're as cute and cuddly as your sister in real life *cough*

The Alan Titchmarsh Show

Blakeborough

Since having something of a life during the summer months I haven't really had much time for daytime television, specifically around the hours of 3pm. Having said that, I found myself with some time on my hands one afternoon last week. I was surprised to see that 'The Alan Titchmarsh Show' being advertised. "Not that guy that likes flowers and hangs out with the woman that doesn't wear a bra, surely?!" I thought to myself, but tuning in at the appropriate time the next day, it turned out that it was indeed "nobbut" Alan Titchmarsh, esteemed plant fancier. Now to me, Alan is grouped in the same category of 'celebrity' as Carol Vorderman or Natasha Kaplinsky; not as pointless as say Jodie Marsh, but not quite as important as Phil and Fern...or the Queen. Who'd have thought he could turn out to be a witty and pleasant chat show host; albeit inoffensive to the point of being ultra PC and a wee bit dull.
In the couple of shows I've seen, he's had some genuinely pretty famous guests (Petula Clark), a very informative debate about being able to specifiy withdrawal of life perpetuating treatment should you one day fall into a coma, and some lovely flowers scattered around the set I imagine have come from his garden at home. Unfortunately the debate was marred by that intolerable Carol Malone woman that works for the Sunday Mirror constantly calling Paul Ross, 'John'. You could see Alan dying to correct her, but being too damn polite to do so. God bless him.