I had 3 applicants going in for the current round of the X Factor. Judge for yourself how worthwhile it is

1 All 3 have good natural voices - a true tenor with an unforced Top C a mezzo and a soprano
2 All sing popular genre music and have no musical or performing background
3 They were given warnings about the need to prepare - the need to learn new material and tne need to
focus on what they have to do - two failed - one got accepted I drilled them relentlessly over their material and the way they should perform and conduct themselves

4 You arrive at 02 at 5.30 in the morning to find a crowd of a 1,000 plus - you wait in the rain until between 12 and 2 in the afternoon to be let in. You wait in total for over 10 hours without food and only the water you came with. You cannot concentrate because the cameras are on you and you have to scream shout and gesticulate at the behest of the crew You are eventually auditioned at 5 in the afternoon after speding all day there in a booth witn one or two people judging you - they are not musicians but TV crew. You have to sing wiithout backing. You are then told after 60 sings whether you are accepted or not

The words cattle and market spring to mind - but a large number of people think that this is worth it

I now have two through - totally agree about the aftercare