TV talent shows have taken over my saturday nights!

In previous years I have to admit I have watched the X Factor. I watched partially interested when Steve and then Shayne won the first two series. I watched series three as Leona was better than everyone (there was no-point having a favourite, no-one else had a chance!) and then last year when Leon won, but to be honest I didnt warm to any of the contenstants last year.

This year I swore to myself I would just watch the funny auditions, convinced that no-one would interest me enough to make me watch the live shows. But I was wrong because as the constentants for the live shows were wittled down to 12 there was actual talent that I liked left to perform on a saturday evening! Despite the usual average performers, constentants like Laura, Austin and Rachel had impressed me. Up to week 2 I had no favourites but when I sat on my sofa watching a performance of Purple Rain in the sing-off I had found my favourite, Ruth Lorenzo.

Even though I have not loved all her performances she has a surperb voice, amazing stage presence and from what we have seen on TV a lovely personality. She has delivered some of the best performances of the series from Purple Rain, Knocking On Heaven's Door and Love Ain't Here Anymore.

She also caught my attention because she sings a genre of music I like, she was not like the manufactured pop acts that these reality shows can produce. Ruth performed classic rock songs and power ballads. In Week five, when she was in the sing-off against Laura White (who has a extremely good voice herself) I was sure she was going home but again, just like Purple Rain she blew everyone away with Knocking on Heaven's Door and I agreed with the judge's choice, Ruth deserved to stay.

In week 8 she gave two blistering performances of rock classics I love Rock and Roll and Always. She was arguably put in the worst slot, first in both rounds of songs. A slot where, even if you give amazing performances like Ruth did, you have a clear disadvantage.

During the results I had a horrible feeling that Ruth was gone, as soon as JLS were called out first. It may have been between Ruth, the popular Diana and the vocally weak Eoghan but I wasn't surprised when Ruth went out. She may have had arguably the best voice in the competition but she didnt have the fanbase and popularity of other weaker constetants.

And as I write this I am waiting for X Factor to start (without Ruth!) I just hope that common sense and talent prevail, she may not be my favourite but to me, Alexandra Burke must win X Factor this year. And for a final word on Ruth, she may not have won but she did very well to reach the top five. And for the first time I will be supporting a contestant beyond the competition, I am a fan of the very talented Ruth Lorenzo.

(Picture from mirror.co.uk)