Rylan Clark – a name which causes any true lover of music and reality television to shudder. It has now reached the stage where his mere presence is destroying the credibility and reputation of The X-Factor, and dragging the programme down into farcical depths. You now have to question whether the show is a talent contest or just a joke. While I may have loyally followed the show over the years, the show’s latest escapade is disillusioning me as a viewer.
My problem is not with Rylan himself persay – he is by all reports a generally nice guy, and appears a relaxed and likeable character who is simply enjoying the experience. The problem is that this is supposedly a singing contest, and whatever anyone might say, he just can’t sing. The whole idea of the show is to uncover potential future stars of the music industry, and with the best will in the world, Rylan does not fit that bill.
Entering the live shows, there were 11 credible acts…and then Rylan. Each of the others were solid, if in some cases not spectacular vocalists, while Rylan offered the novelty value. However each week Rylan survives it is at the expense of one of the other acts, who potentially have the chance to forge a career in the music industry.
In reality, if this programme really is a talent contest, then Rylan should never have been in the final twelve acts. Nicole Scherzinger had six talented singers to choose from, and along with potential stars James Arthur and Jahmene Douglas, she picked by far the weakest of her options. Yet with the exception of Gary Barlow, who has constantly criticised the 23 year old from Essex’s ability, the other judges are all to blame for causing the demise of the programme’s credibility.
Twice now the judges have had the chance to end Rylan’s stay on the programme, yet first Louis Walsh and then Tulisa Contostavlos have made the incredulous decision of sending home other contestants. Both times the sing off has resulted in deadlock, and twice Rylan has somehow survived – at the expense of both Carolynne Poole and this week Kye Sones. Neither were stars, but both deserved to progress in the competition much more than the act that Gary Barlow described as “talentless”.
Every week Nicole, Louis and Tulisa praise Rylan’s performance, when millions of viewers are sitting at home cringing at the screen, as they are forced to sit through another woeful performance. Sometimes you just wish you could sit on the judges’ panel, and actually give an honest verdict on someone’s ability, rather than watching what is supposed to be a talent contest be reduced into a joke.
Sadly though, as long as Rylan remains, a joke is exactly what the contest will be in many people’s eyes. It’s a shame as there are some incredibly talented acts in this year’s contest, with fantastic careers seemingly lying ahead of Ella Henderson, James Arthur and Jahmene Douglas. Yet at the moment, Rylan Clark’s presence is overshadowing their undoubted talent.
Of course some people might love Rylan’s cheesy performances, where he succeeds at giving arguably the worst rendition ever heard of a host of songs. If we were at karaoke, Rylan would be of a decent standard, but we’re not. Instead this is supposed to be a talent contest, and we now have seven acts left; six are talented, the seventh sadly is not.
However much of a nice guy the former model is, his personality doesn’t justify his position on the programme. This isn’t entertainment, it’s just ridiculous. Each week that a talented singer goes, whilst Rylan remains, is another blow to the credibility of the X-Factor. The damage has in many people’s minds probably already been done, but if the situation is to be salvaged, then Rylan must be voted off. The public have twice done their part, but the judges have dragged the programme down to a despairingly low level on both occasions.
This is all too familiar a situation- with the show previously featuring the likes of Wagner and Jedward. Of course this is all to generate more publicity; and while the saying might go that “all publicity is bad publicity”, they are also succeeding in turning the programme into a joke.