Laura mclean’s Blog

X Factor loser Daniel Evans has angrily denied claims that he used his dead wife to help him stay on the programme.

Despite heavy criticism from the judges Daniel of Walthamstow, East London, survived on the show for six weeks. The father of three dedicated ‘Sometimes when we touch’ to his wife Jacqueline who died during complications in the birth of their daughter, Ana Maria.

Accusations that he used his wife’s tragic death to progress in the contest raise questions about the X Factors’ credibility. Is it talent or emotional blackmail that keeps its contestants afloat?

In an interview last night Daniel said he only entered the competition because it had been his wife’s wish. He said ‘I only mentioned it because i was asked.’

The frequency with which X Factor contestants tell a sob story in their audition has even irritated Oasis front man Noel Gallagher who joked ‘It’s all about who’s got the biggest sob story this year’.

Daniel isn’t the only contestant relying on the depth of their tragic tale rather than any raw talent. Rachel Hylton has saled to week 7 with a mediocre voice and a previous drug addiction. As Laura White, otherwise dubbed ‘The Voice’ was voted out in week five it is clear the public are favouring the underdog.

Ricky Gervais-a-like Daniel claimed it was ‘thanks to the public I got this far’. So perhaps it is we the viewing public who should be ashamed. Our strange fondness of the nice but not so talented means easy money for music Moguls such as Simon Cowell. It seems that sympathy sells in the case of the British pop culture.

With ‘The Voice’ gone from the competition we are in danger of losing charismatic and gifted stars from our charts. Nice but dull singers are coming out on top.