Bristol man's mobile protest at X Factor 'farce'
A Bristol businessman was so incensed at X Factor judge Simon Cowell's failure to oust twins John and Edward Grimes from the TV contest that he is using one of his company's vans to protest outside the contestants' house in London.
John Grant drove one of his Portbury-based firm's postavans –mobile advertising hoardings on the back of a truck –to the house where the contestants are living in London and parked outside displaying the message: "X Factor is turning into the deadlock factor farce Mr Coward! Singers need not apply. Let the studio audience decide in the future."
Welsh singer Lucie Jones ended up leaving the show on Sunday, after her fate was decided by a public vote.
Simon Cowell voted to keep the twins in the ITV show, meaning Lucie left the competition after polling the least public telephone votes.
Mr Grant said he was so outraged by Simon Cowell's actions on Sunday that he had to do something.
"It was the second week that Simon Cowell had sent the decision back to the public vote.
"On Sunday he had the chance to send home John and Edward, who he has consistently criticised.
"He said he would judge the twins and Lucie Jones on their performances but he just chickened out.
"It was a complete farce. Lucie was a much better performer and the terrible twins survived because Cowell had no bottle."
ITV has had thousands of complaints over the decision, and at one stage the X Factor website's comments page was disabled because of all the negative comments.
Mr Grant said he has had a lot of support for his campaign.
He said: "Lots of people have come up to me and said how much they support what I am doing. I hope this protest will make sure that Simon Cowell does not abdicate his responsibilities for the rest of the series and that he will apologise to the public for letting everyone down."
Mr Grant later parked the van outside the ITV headquarters in Woodbank, and the BBC studios in Wood Lane, in an attempt to carry the protest to a wider audience.
Simon Cowell has stood by his decision to put the choice of which act to save to the public vote.
He said: "If you allow – which I think is right – the public to determine who wins, you've got to go with it. You don't have to agree with it but you have to go with it."
39 Comments
View all
by Paul, London
Sunday, November 15 2009, 12:50PM
“Loved Alex,Redcliffe's comment above....classic..
but ask yourselves this..
when you all PAY to watch (via your votes) a singing-version of WWF wrestling, who are the IDIOTS?...
S. Coward is the best at taking money from stupid people, and anyone who read his birthday ode to himself should understand THE most honest person on TV...
ladies and gentlefolk.... get a life...
Lucy Jones....be the star your deserve to be...
Gordon Brown be afraid...the Coward is coming to get your job...”
by x fact!, bristol
Thursday, November 12 2009, 6:53PM
“Lucy went out because the public did'nt give her enough votes?? am I wrong??? Its the public's fault shes a goner!!”
by Alex, Redcliffe
Thursday, November 12 2009, 3:01PM
“Copied from a website called NewsAr** (last four letters relate to another word for your bottom). It's not a rude site - just a satirical take on stories making the national news.
*Breaking News - 3,000 people complain to Ofcom about themselves*
Ofcom has reported that it received 3,000 complaints from the public, about the public, following last week¿s X-Factor result.
An Ofcom spokesperson told us, ¿The public seem to be deeply upset that they didn¿t vote for the person they intended too and would like the chance to change their minds.¿
¿They also made it clear they were unhappy that Simon Cowell¿s opinion differed from their own and would like this rectified in future episodes.¿
A lack of public support saw everyone¿s favourite Welsh female singer from the program, Lucie Jones, eliminated, while to the despair of the public Irish trolls John and Edward made it to next week¿s show.
_Boycott_
Social networking website Facebook saw nearly 23.9 million empty threats to boycott the show within 45 seconds of the result being confirmed.
The Ofcom spokesperson continued, ¿Normally you would have thought these 3,000 complainants would have better things to do, but as they watch X-Factor, that is clearly not the case.¿
Ofcom have promised to give the impression each case will be looked at individually, but would like to thank the public for saving the company 3 weeks worth of toilet roll.
A prominent member of the public stated, ¿We were very lucky this came around, there hadn¿t been anything pointless for frustrated people like me to waste everyone¿s time complaining about for a few weeks and weeks.¿
¿I just hope that Ofcom take my complaint about my behaviour seriously. I really am very angry with myself indeed.¿
PM Gordon Brown has welcomed the complaints, claiming that such monumental errors of judgement among the public mean he still has a chance at the next election.”
by Vicky & Lisa, Carvoeiro, Portugal
Thursday, November 12 2009, 2:20PM
“Fantastic - we are right behind you!”
by Harry Plopper, South Glos
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 5:14PM
“Is ours the only household in the UK that does not watch X-factor...?!
Are we the only people who are not sad and have lives, and actualy look for something more on TV that this sort of tawdry tat!
What ever happened to Bethany Hughes' Spartans on a Saturday night? Now that was TV!”