... the main purpose of the show is the franchise and the revenue it makes with the next big act being way down the list.
Spot on!
That's exactly what the producers of the show want. Their remit is ensure that the audience figures are the highest. That's it.
The contestants, after the show ends, must use this show as a platform to launch a career. They have to work hard to make it happen.
Some contestants are brain-washed into believing that simply by winning the show they are already a star. Even judges unashamedly use the words, "You are a ready made recording artist". "You will sell millions".
What the judges forget to mention is that if the contestants don't work hard after the show and fail to sell records, they will get dumped by their record company.
The judges also don't mention the likes of Cardle, Brookstein, etc.
What really ticks me off is all the tears when someone is voted off. I can understand if a 15 year old teenage girl got voted out and started crying. But seeing grown men do the same is cringe-worthy. People need to understand that after being voted off, the contestant is not sent to a guillotine. They are allowed to return to their "normal" life. Some lucky ones who are prepared to work hard will release an album or 2 and go onto bigger things.
So, back to the show:
Jahmane is definitely going to win this one now. No doubt about it. In the history of the show, whoever ends up in the bottom 2 at any stage (J. Arthur), never wins the show.
So come on, lets have your predictions...