You can sneer all you like but I like these boys – and if they can win me over then they really must have something because I was one of their harshest critics not too long ago. Tonight they proved that they are as entertaining, albeit in their own way, as any of the other acts. In fact, they are MORE entertaining than most of them.

The X Factor was becoming more like the X Factory – a conveyor belt of singers all trying to be someone else and in the end not being very interesting. To tell you the truth I find Leona Lewis dead boring, and Alexandra Burke as well – they are nothing special and there are many more just as good as them who have not had the good luck that they have enjoyed. Good singers are a dime a dozen these days – you rarely find a true gem that is without equal in the way that Barbra Streisand or Shirley Bassey is. Where are all the originals these days…?

John and Edward are their own act and I like them; they have been fantastic sports in the face of the most ignorant and nastiest of criticism, they have just smiled and gotten on with the job. There are many supposedly ‘great’ experienced singers who could learn a lesson in professionalism from these two kids – I hope that they don’t lose their youthful naivete, it is refreshing to see in youth these days. X Factor judge Dannii Minogue is threatening to quit if John and Edward get through tomorrow night and her Stacey does not – well, go ahead and walk Dannii-girl, it would be a big mistake to start throwing hissy-fits right now and trying to tell the public who they can and cannot vote for…it can backfire. Those boys have as much right to a place in next weeks show as your boring Stacey, they are legitimate contestants too.