Surely the most popular of the 'Talent Contest' style programs that have filled our TV screens of late, the X Factor has gone from strength to strength. It's a transatlantic, world-wide megahit. Simon Cowell reportedly earns more than anyone else on TV for basically slagging people off. 'Real' celebrities such as Robbie Williams and the Black Eyed Peas are queuing up to do a guest spot on the show.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has weighed in, saying that he doesn't rate John and Edward, the twins with the funny hair.

But is it all sweetness and light?

Or is the whole show a transparent sham, with sinister undertones of being cheap prole-feed designed to get us to go and see Disney movies and buy hate filled newspapers? Is it addictive garbage?

Sting slags off X Factor.

Further opinions from the NME.

Do you have to trade in your soul for the X Factor?