Last updated at 11:12, Saturday, 28 November 2009

Anybody else nursing a sneaky feeling that the mighty X Factor might be creaking at the knees of its last legs?

Twins John and Edward

They are, after all, quite doddery knees these days. They’ve been supporting the weighty flimflam of manufactured – even manipulated – celebrity for many a year-in-year-out age. And nothing lasts for ever.

All those false expressions of shock and frustrated surprise from King Cowell, as wannabe superstars and would-be divas unkindly leave the stage – these days they look thinner than Cheryl Cole’s ankles.

And accompanying red-top tabloid stalking of every “secret” off screen move merely adds to weary realisation of pre-sale deals having been clinched for added viewer – and producer – value.

So, what will the approaching new decade hold in store for King Cowell and his obedient little prince and princesses? Ex Factor, perhaps?

All good things come to an end and – as was seen last week, when those creepy twins exited – some bad things can sometimes be allowed to run out of steam too... if they appear to be threatening the bottom line.

“They’ve left on a high,” soothed their mentor and judge Louis Walsh, as the Irish lads drifted from X Factor to be spooky stars in X Files.

A high? Goodness, if this is the height of UK talent scouting, the Cheeky Girls better start preparing for a comeback tour.

If you’ve been watching X Factor from day one you deserve an OBE for services to anger management. If you’ve tuned in more recently to catch the best of what’s left – hard lines. There is no best.

Too many second-raters, too many commercial breaks, too much whooping from a too loud studio audience, taking up too much of the weekend and too many clues to a script of pre-destined winner – serving purpose of making too much money for the king.

All that remains as escape from irritation is a glimpse of Dannii Minogue’s fabulous frocks – and that takes no more than three seconds.

There’ll be no weeping, wailing or gnashing of teeth when this bloated fraud of a show limps away into the distance to free up weekends for something more exciting – like cleaning skirting boards, for instance.

Every dog (and talent contest) has its day. Factor’s has overstayed its welcome.

First published at 08:56, Saturday, 28 November 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk