Talent Quest Lures Ageing Crooners
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday December 13, 2004
The producers of the talent quest The X-Factor, which premieres on Channel Ten in February, are poised for their biggest TV talent windfall in the 25-plus category. People of all ages, skills and talent levels turned up for auditions in Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney (held last weekend), but insiders say the 25-plus category yielded the most interesting results.
"There are lots of housewives singing Hey, Big Spender," says a spy who was at the auditions. "It seems to be a housewife anthem." In Brisbane, judges were treated to a performance by an all-male singing group of 65 men, aged from 16 to 72, called The Blenders.The brainchild of Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell, The X-Factor auditions contestants in three categories: 16-24, 25-plus and vocal groups. In Melbourne, where several thousand auditioned over two days, the 25-plus line was the longest. The series will feature Idol judge Mark Holden.Nigel Hall, the executive producer of the British version, was in town for the interstate auditions. A Ten spokesman says he was "thrilled with the quality of the contestants".
© 2004 Sydney Morning Herald