Exploitation of the vulnerable has been a constant feature of The X Factor since the show started. Every year we have at least one lost soul whose appearance, demeanour and actions place him or her in the “special needs” “frail” or “certifiable” category.
We are continually served up desperate tone deaf misfits for our amusement and inevitably those who are most misguided about their singing talents have a missing link in other areas of their lives. But still we laugh.
Last year Shirlena Johnson made us titter with her screeching interpretation of Duffy’s Mercy. It sounded like nails scratching down a blackboard, excruciating to listen to but strangely compelling to watch – car crash TV at its best.
Was anyone surprised when we discovered she’d been allowed to take part in the show despite significant mental health issues? Not really. Did it stop us tuning in this year? Of course not.
Ratings are soaring and the current series is the most popular yet. That says more about us than it does about the programme-makers. Rather than calling for their heads over the treatment of Welsh widow Ceri Rees we should be turning the spotlight on ourselves.
After all the wide-eyed 54-year-old was wheeled out for the fourth time on Sunday night purely for our delectation. Clearly a few sandwiches short of picnic, Ceri believes she can sing – something the Swansea vocal coach she employs should be in the dock for, first and foremost.
Yet even though I consider myself appropriately mindful of mental health matters I chortled when Gary Barlow made fun of her mispronunciation of Les Miserables. It was only thanks to the hand-wringing of the celebrity Twitterati that I felt guilty for my insensitivity. Yes she was unfairly treated and bringing her on repeatedly to face public humiliation was cruel.
But at the time of viewing I was more concerned about the fact that the segment lasted too long and putting a bad act on at the end rather than saving the best until last, jarred.
Clearly X Factor HQ believes we want to see the frail and vulnerable humiliated on a weekly basis and they wouldn’t do it unless such bear-baiting was a winner in the ratings wars.
For all the outraged tweeting from the likes of Lily Allen and Lorraine Kelly (poor wee soul!) we need the deluded and the deranged to engage us in the early stages of the competition until the boring bit – the live shows, when we’ll probably turn over to Strictly.
Does that make it right? Of course not, but X Factor bosses are under intense pressure to maintain ratings and like it or not, they know for all our moral outrage we like to mock the afflicted.
Sally’s spirits desert her at the Palace
Yorkshire medium Steve Holbrook says he can’t believe top telly psychic Sally Morgan is a phoney following claims that she was fed information from the back of the auditorium during a recent gig in Dublin.
I’m not so sure.
I saw Sally at the Palace Theatre a couple of years ago and left at half time because her calls for a “Jean?” “Janet?” “Joan?” in an audience dominated by middle aged and elderly women sounded desperate.
Her spirit aide was clearly missing that night.
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"they know for all our moral outrage we like to mock the afflicted."
You might, I certainly don't.
Perhaps your soul would feel a little cleaner if you simply refused to watch such trashy TV. If you can't bring yourself to do that then maybe you'll have to accept the fact that you might not be a very nice person.
What struck me was that anyone not conforming to accepted norms of beauty or physical attractivness but who can still sing decently are described as being suprising or exceeding the judge's expectations.
People with learning difficulties are purposely allowed to get through the hundreds of pre auditions with the sole intention of suffering ridicule.
I don't like this exploitation of weak and unwell people.
There is no need for it.
It demeans us.
If anyone appears on X Factor or similar shows despite "significant mental health issues" then surely the persons responsible for their care & well being deserve your criticisms as much as the show's producers etc. After all, it should come as no surprise that the audiences, both studio & TV, enjoy mocking those who can't sing & who don't fit a pre-conceived idea of what a star should look like. I remember seeing Susan Boyd's first appearance and the howls of derision based purely on her appearance. I particularly enjoyed the look of astonishment on the audience's faces when she started to sing. Yes, she has mild learning difficulties, but she has far more talent than those baying idiots in the audience and it was good to see their faces metaphorically slapped.
As for mediums, it's all kidology. Certainly, the best are very good at making suggestions to the audience & reading the responses, giving leading questions etc but communicating with the dead? Ridiculous. Anyone who could genuinely do so would be a world wide phenomenon and God knows (forgive the pun) how various religions would react.
OH for goodness sake Deanna, when I saw the headline I thought that for the first time I might agree with you on something - that the merciless expolitation of the mentally ill on X Factor was cruel and totally unnecessary.
But apparantly you enjoyed it.....
Haven't you twigged - It isnt a singing contest.
Its a vehicle for the ad's and if they were only showing good singers it would only last 4 weeks
You roll your eyes to the skies
mock horrified
and yet you never turn the telly off
cant hurt to print her photo one last time though, eh?
Deanna, I'm sure the adverisisers will be pleased to hear you watch this programme and write about in a newspaper.
all of simon cowells programs set out to exploit people. this is how this man works.
while all these people get exploited he financially gains from this.
thats why i never watch his shows or buy his artists music. i dont want him to get a penny of my hard earned cash.
he's just a glorified parasite that feeds off people.
I thought Simons new face was funnier.
TV exploitation of persons with learning difficulties as been going on for years , called the Jeremy Kyle show.
Only idiots watch the X factor.
Only idiots believe TV psychics.