I would like the producers of X Factor (namely Simon then) to explain to me and the rest of the public, what exactly they want from their contestants. We take the name X Factor for granted but what does it actually mean? Good personality/Good performer/Good singer? All of the above? Some of the above?

You see, watching this week’s show I was suddenly confused about what we’re looking for.

Take Jamie to being with. He’s a rock star. That’s his clothing style, his singing style and it’s his passion. What do the judges want from him then? When he sings rock, he literally ROCKS because he lives and breathes that style. Big band last week wasn’t his thing but why should it be. Who wants to hear a rocker singing big band? Louis is full of criticism for him but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with doing what you do, as long as it is brilliant. And he is and was.

Next up is our dear Stacey. Amazingly powerful voice with such a divine personality that I would be upset should she not grace our screens every Saturday night. So dancing isn’t her thing. Big deal! On the one hand she’s criticised for not moving enough. But it’s a singing competition. If we’re to listen to Danni (who I think copied it off Simon a few weeks ago) then what’s important is to sound good on the radio, so Stacey moving on stage should not be of major concern. In total comparison there is Jedward. Good on stage (debatable but for arguments sake I guess the fact that they’re still in means people like them) yet they would undoubtedly be bad on the radio. So what’s the answer? Do they need to excel at both singing AND performing? In my own opinion (never humble in this self indulgent blog) I don’t think that a wonderful singer like Stacey should be ruled out because she isn’t a mover. Maybe I haven’t watched enough Leona videos to know but does she really dance?

My point may have taken a while to make but here it is: do we really need a perfectly all rounded artist and is there even such a thing? An artist needs to have their style and identity and they should not be afraid to show that on the show. Jedward’s style may not be to everyone’s taste but it’s their style. Jamie’s a great rocker so why shouldn’t he bring that into his performances. I’m not saying they should deliver the same routine week after week, but we should we grateful to find gems like Jamie and Stacey who are amazing at what they do. Why hide their uniqueness when once/if they get a record deal their producer would anyway focus on their strong point. Similarly, if you’re into off tune, crazy dancing Jedward then so be it. Maybe that will be their angle. Live performances with tracks so covered up that their voices are masked to sound professional. Now it’s not like the music industry’s never done that before.

Watching hours of the X Factor each week and writing this blog, I am clearly a big fan of the show. So this article should not be taken as a sign of dislike, more than a passion for a show which I love and want to kick into shape.

Only 5 days to go.

Talking Tara

Dear 888ladies & 888gents, ghouls & ghosts, vampires & werewolves and other terrifying, unspeakable creatures…

It is that time of year again where the witches come out to play and you have an extra clove of garlic in your dinner, just in case….no, it’s not a trip to greeny’s house, it is Halloween!!

In order to celebrate this fang-tastic event, there will be LPs gore-lore and a Herman Munster sized Bonus Code in order for you to get yourselves in the game for the special, terrifyingly mouth-watering Halloween £8,888 Jackpot game! That’s right, the £8,888 Guaranteed Jackpot plays tonight and tickets are as low as  the depths of Hell, only £1. Also, you can prebuy! In otherwords you can buy your lucky tickets NOW and you don’t need to be in the room for them to play AND WIN!

If this wasn’t enough, it is the last full day that our Bingo Cruise winners, armo, Ladypenelope, nannaofcjnr & nannamarg, are spending in the UK before they fly our tomorrow to Los Angeles. It is then onto their Bingo Cruise on the luxury cruise liner, the Carnival Splendor, and a rendez-vous with the Fairy, Tommygntlmn and the unique CM Chica for a week of fun in the sun!!

So from 3-4pm today, in Ladies First, we are having a farewell party where we can wish ‘Bon Voyage’ to all our winners and maybe see some special guests in there…

So have a great day in the Chats and on the £8,888 Jackpot Game . Follow us here on the blog, on Twitter and of course, and on Facebook!  It is worth keeping an extra window open to follow us at www.twitter.com – just look for ‘888ladiesbingo’ and follow us. There will be hordes of LPs and High Street vouchers to be given away today, plus there will be a bonus toad on there!!

Signing the cross……..

……..Agenticide

Dear 888ladies & 888gents

Today is Part II of the 888ladies’ pet party. We are celebrating again our furry, hairy and feathery friends who mean soooo much to us.

Let’s start with the ‘888ladies’ Cutest Pet’ Competition. Over the last week and a half I have asked for the roomies to send in pics of their pets, preferably containing banners, so we could make a gallery that you can see on the blog with Flickr to the right of this blog post AND on Facebook where there is a gallery of all the 888ladies pets that were sent in. From all those pictures, we have more than 40 candidates for the cutest 888ladies pet. From tortoises and bearded dragons to horses and chinchillas, we have got almost everything! From the list below, vote for your 888ladies cutest pet! There will be LPs for the top 3!

Owners feel free to write a few sentences to put forward your pet’s case as 888ladies’ cutest pet!! Competition is tough for this one!

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Have any of you got brave pets? In what way has your pet saved your life or committed an act of heroism? There will be LPs for the best entries – just for today!

Get to the chats too, there will be 1,000s upon 1,000s of LPs up for grabs in there for you all – all questions will be on pets and famous animals.

Signing off……..

……..Agent008

Dear 888ladies & 888gents

Look at all of the roomies who are getting 2,000LPs back just for getting their tickets for the £10,000 Sliding Jackpot on Friday and yesterday!

Each and every one of them bought at least 5 tickets for yesterday’s sliding £10,000 Jackpot, it was like 3 + 2 for tickets! As they got £2 worth of LPs back it was like getting free tickets!

alandjoy, alexxx123, alias730, andii01, angel1955, angie57, annadairy, aprilpower, ashback, ashleighclair, assen01, badrustus, baldwin321, banana314, bettybingo56, biscuit11, bruji, bubbles49, caldee, carelady, carobee, carolinec, cheekyirishpixi, Cherokee1926, chinagirl, chrisliz, Chugga, claire27, COLIN189, daz346, degsysbabes, diggerb, DOLLYTEAPOT, ELVIS777, erinsnanny, FairyGodmother, fourboys, hemsweller, HotHouse81, ianpie, iona10, IwishIwish, jadelle5, jakianne, jammysoandso, januarychic, jaydee22, jenlappin, justmagic, justmetowin, kellyann5, kitykat, kyle1992, kyvic, laurenfreeman, lilligrace, lizze1951, londonladdy, luckydragonsmr, luckyfi3, lynn53, mancgurl, maryk11, maxpup, megpat, michelle01, mrbruji, Mrmagz, mrtom, Mysticgems, Ned44, noonoo1978, ohiwonxx67, olipaige, padova, Palacelv, paulene, piinkpriincess, Pimrat, sammolly, sarjane84, shlbnny, sillygily123, sirjake2005, sixtieschic, sjw0312, spangey44, stefcamp, steph81, suebingoqueen, sugary, sul59, SusieJ, sweetieween, tagger1, teddy2, thecarer, TWINKLE81, unluckyalisa18, watercooler, winkalot, winnerz999 & xxemaxx83

Well Done you lot!

Signing off……..

……..Agent008

Hi Everyone

First let me take you back to how this lovely surprise happened.

I had cards for the play off for being one of the seventy five finalists with the most Sombrero Points, I played the game and was so pleased for armo when she won.

We were told to keep playing as there was going to be a draw for a second cabin. Never in a million years did I think that I would win the second cabin.

LadyPenelope saying how she feels after her win…

I remember that I had been on bingo all morning and had gone to do a bit of gardening with my son when chinagirl rang to say I had better get on bingo straight away as  I had won the second cabin. OMG! Total disbelief… this sort of thing never happens to me but it was true that I had!!

I rang my sister as soon as it had sunk in, who was on a day trip to Blackpool celebrating her birthday and told her the  good news and that I was taking her with me, I had promised her that if I did win that I would take her….I didn’t think for a moment that I would but I wouldn’t want to take anyone else.

Thankyou to everyone at 888ladies and all the roomie for their kind wishes!

Ladypenelope xxxx

Dear 888ladies and 888gents

Tomorrow in the Chats, Facebook, Blog & Twitter is a big party in tribute to your heroes. Who has changed your life in a very personal way? Maybe it is someone close to you, maybe a famous celebrity or just someone’s story of triumph over adversity that spurred you on to greater things yourself.

If this rings true with you, why not write down, with your alias, who is YOUR hero and they will added as a candidate to tomorrow’s poll to find out who is 888ladies’ BIGGEST HERO!

So, at the bottom of this post, click on comments and then add your nomination. The vote is tomorrow!!

Good Luck!

Signing off…….

…….Agent008