Voting probe into twins' survival
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Tuesday November 10 2009
UK Broadcasting regulator Ofcom is investigating complaints following Simon Cowell's decision to let the public decide who to vote off the latest episode of The X Factor.
Welsh teenager Lucie Jones was kicked off the talent show after the public chose Irish twins John and Edward Grimes to go through to the next round.
The twins, from Lucan, Dublin, have become firm favourites with the public despite some erratic performances. Cowell's vote for them on Sunday led to the public vote deciding who would have to leave the hit show. More than 3,000 viewers complained to ITV, according to reports.
Afraid
An Ofcom spokeswoman confirmed that complaints had been made but would not confirm how many had been received. She said: "We will assess the complaints against the Broadcasting Code."
Jones' grandmother Jean Davies (74) told said Cowell "chickened out". She said: "I said all along if it came down to Lucie and anyone else he would get rid of her because he is afraid of her voice. He said all along he wanted a male singer to win this year."
The twins said they were racked with guilt after knocking Jones out of the show.
The boys, nicknamed Jedward, join Lucie (18) in the bottom two in front of the biggest audience the ITV talent show has ever received.
On Saturday the twins managed to gain praise from their harshest critic for a performance of the theme from Ghostbusters. Cowell said: "It was possibly more entertaining than anything you have done before. Well done."
As it came to the crunch, the pop mogul said he would prefer to see the boys again rather than Jones, but left the final decision to viewers.
His admission will fuel speculation that the record company boss in fact likes the siblings and has plans for them.
The show, which reeled in a record peak audience of 16.6 million viewers, saw the two acts fight it out in a sing-off.
Cowell voted to keep them on the show as did their mentor Louis Walsh, while Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole voted for Jones.The decision went to "deadlock", meaning the matter was decided by the public vote.
hnews@herald.ie
- Liam Creedon
