X Factor 2009: Jedward: John and Edward Grimes:X Factor's most controversial contestants ever?

X Factor has been back on British television screens for quite a while now. As an annual singing competition it is not dissimilar to American Idol. However the contestants on X Factor are sorted into four groups which each has a mentor. The contest is not just looking for a great vocalist or band but someone or some group that has that extra something special, The X Factor.

We are now into Week Four of the live shows and the final 12 acts have already been whittled down to the last 9. Tonight's results show will see a further act be sent home.

Perhaps the most controversial act X Factor has ever seen is the twins John and Edward who are still in the competition.

Nicknamed JEDWARD this act has had more press, good and bad, than any other X Factor finalists. So just who, what and why are Jedward?

John and Edward are a couple of Irish guys who are aged just 17. Love them or loathe them it is hard to ignore them in the UK, right now.

From their first appearance on X Factor they seemed to divide public opinion. At first they looked like refugees from the Village of the Damned and seemed totally obnoxious.

Simon said at the start that they were annoying but was he airing his true feelings?

If the current press stories are to be believed he was not. Recent reports claim that both Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell saw potential in the twins and decided to manipulate the press and voting public. If this is true they have done sterling work.

Even myself writing this hub is adding to their publicity. Now this not something which I really want to do because personally I think that they are a waste of space. However, I am not a giggly teenager, by any stretch of the imagination.

At the audition stage three acts were teamed up to perform together. Jedward managed to sing over the other two acts that were unfortunate enough to be grouped with them. For me this started my dislike of them.

Since then we have been told over and over again that they are really nice guys, only young and the twins seem to have attempted to be likable.

However it is not a personality contest but intrinsically a Singing Contest. So let's put the record straight the twins cannot sing. One is lightly worse than the other but neither can really sing.

Can they perform?

Well up to now they have given some eye catching performances. Dressed up and performing in what appears to be a mini Jedward show they do alright.

Nothing wrong with having some support. Other acts have backing singers and dancers. Jedward though have an ensemble of support artists.

Their image of course is something that will appeal to some of those that vote each week.

In order to assess Jedward properly I would like to see them, hair flattened down, standing alone in front of two microphones attempting to belt out a song, without any support artists. This will not happen.

Currently Simon Cowell has stated that he will leave the country if the Twins win. This also guarantees that the public will vote for Jedward.

Interestingly the betting odds on Jedward winning were initially 150/1 and have dropped to something like 8/1. Obviously some people stand to make pots of money if they win.

Tonight's, Sunday 1st November 2009, X Factor result show will be aired at 8pm on ITV. Jedward are surely on their way home?

No I doubt it.

With great singers falling by the wayside each week it looks as if the UK could have a Christmas number one by Jedward.

One thing is for sure, if they win, their success will be short lived.

UPDATE-Sunday 1st November 2009

Well Jedward have survived for another week whilst excellent vocalist Rachel has gone home. How long will they survive?

Not much longer I hope.