ITV show The X Factor viewers predict that contestant Cher Lloyd will win the current series of the show, but it is soulful hopeful Matt Cardle who wins out when it comes to who our panellists want to win, our poll of the X Factor-watching British public has found.
- One in five (21%) X Factor viewers would like to see painter and decorator Matt Cardle, who sang When Love Takes Over in last week’s show, win the competition.
- 50 year-old Dublin diva Mary Byrne, who sang This Is A Man’s World, is the second favourite, supported by 10% of viewers, followed by Cher Lloyd, single mum Rebecca Ferguson and Blackpool-born Aiden Grimshaw who received 8% of the vote each.
- Less popular acts include the eccentric Katie Waissell (1%), rocker Storm Lee, (1%) and band Diva Fever (1%).
However, predictions vary when it comes to who viewers believe will actually win the programme.
- 14% of viewers believe that 17 year-old Cher Lloyd will take the title of The X Factor winner this series.
- Other popular predictions for the win include Aiden Grimshaw (12%), Matt Cardle (12%), Rebecca Ferguson (6%) and One Direction (4%).
Matt Cardle became an early favourite in the competition, after he sang Amy Winehouse hit You Know I’m No Good at his first audition and a haunting version of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face at ‘Bootcamp’. Last Saturday night his performance was highly praised by the judges, with Simon Cowell commenting ‘If you put that record out in a week’s time, you’d have a monster hit.’
Doubts and debates
As for Cher Lloyd, she has been a source of controversy in the competition. Although she initially bowled over the judges with her attitude-filled rendition of Keri Hilson’s version of Get Your Swag On, the 17 year-old broke down with tonsillitis at judge Cheryl Cole’s house, leading some viewers to question whether she should remain in the competition.
So far male group FYD and Italian singer Nicolo Festa have both been eliminated from the live rounds of the competition. The contestants will face the public vote again after performing in the next episode of the programme, which airs tomorrow (Saturday) on ITV1 at 7.30pm, followed by the results show on Sunday at 9:30pm.
