We heard a rumour that Unreality TV was being discussed on a local radio station a few weeks back.

Why? Because we weren’t coming out in full support of Eoghan Quigg, our Northern Irish contestant.

Apparently, we’re a bunch of shits for not flying the flag for Eoghan. I’d like to clear up why we can’t support Eoghan (when I say we, I actually mean me, Lisa is shaking her head in disgust with me as I type this!). And it’s nothing personal. And it’s certainly nothing unpatriotic to our fellow Northern Irish folks! Read on…

What is The X Factor?

The X Factor is many things to many people. But to us, it’s the search for a major UK recording artist. In Unreality’s opinion, Leona Lewis’s win was the perfect X Factor ending – we created a major international star. Imagine if Ray Quinn had won that year?

So, before we go any further, The X Factor is about finding a recording artist who will sell records.

The problem with Under 25 boys

Young male contestants are popular on X Factor. It’s a combination of young girls wanting to have their babies and motherly types wanting to mother them. To be twee about it, it’s the Cute Factor.

Now, Ray Quinn had the cute factor. Leon Jackson apparently had it too. Neither have had memorable recording careers. Ray released a swing album and was released from his deal within a year. Leon’s just released his album, and judging by the response, he’ll be without a deal shortly too.

Skip on over to Britain’s Got Talent and last year’s winner, George Sampson. Same thing.

Why are these boys really successful on X Factor, but not when it comes to record sales? I’d argue that teenagers are more likely to txt in a vote for a teenage boy on TV. But by the time they release a record nearly a year later, their ‘audience’ has got over their crush and moved on.

There you go, another career in the toilet. Another flaw in the X Factor formula.

It’s not Eoghan’s fault…

Northern Ireland’s pretty strongly behind Eoghan. He’s got a lot of support around the schools, and the local media is rallying hard as well. And rightly so, he’s the best Norn Irelander to join X Factor. Remember Phillip Magee? No, didn’t think so.

But could I stand up and vote for him as this year’s winner? Absolutely not. Not having watched X Factor for so many years. If you look at what I’ve said above, by the time he gets around to releasing a record, his career will be over.

Is it possible that The X Factor makes more money in phone votes for young male contestants than a record company will make in sales for them?

Look at the acts that are still standing: JLS could be a pretty slick group if they can escape Louis Walsh’s bland clutches. Alexandra Burke already has the full pop star package. If Diana Vickers could regain her confidence, she’d be a great contender too. All of these three could potentially sell records.

And what can a failed winner expect?

Remember, right back at the start I said this was nothing personal against Eoghan? If I was in Eoghan’s posse, I’d be worried about him winning.

What if he doesn’t sell records? Look at Leon, now largely regarded as a charmless gump who never had a chance of a number 1 album. I’d hate to see another kid go through the same thing again. I’d hate for him to become bitter when the voting public don’t follow through and buy his record.

Also, Simon’s obviously thinking to the future as well: compliments to Alexandra were obvious on this weekend’s show, and he was quite blunt about Eoghan’s performance being weak. I have a feeling he knows whose record he’d like to be releasing.

Unless Cowell reveals some cast-iron plan for how to market Eoghan and what kind of music he intends to release, I couldn’t possibly vote for him. At this stage of the competition, the winner is often the one you can see releasing records, and of the four remaining contestants, Eoghan is the one who I have no idea what type of music he’d end up releasing.