Contestants are said to be “furious” at the choice of song for this year’s winner’s single – Hallelujah – which Diana (she of the Left Hand) sang at boot camp. They reckon it’s yet more evidence that the result of the show is already decided. Surely no-one can believe The X Factor is fixed?

Related: X Factor on TV Scoop | Review of last week’s show

In a piece of stunning originality, Louis Walsh left his script in the bin and came up with the astonishing comment that Diana “made the song her own” after her boot camp performance.

Certainly, a Diana win would hardly be surprising the way the judges talk her up even after the most mediocre of performances. She’s rapidly turning into the X Factor equivalent of Marmite, as the nation is split between those who think she’s “relevant,” quirky, cool and original, and those who think she sounds like a creaking door, needs a decent haircut, and comes from a different planet. Personally, I’m still on the fence. (*cough*)

X Factor insider A. Source said: “Many [of the contestants] suspect producers are paving the way for Diana to win and there is nothing they can do.” Well let’s face it, at this stage in the competition the voting figures are usually telling their own tale, and if I was a producer looking at an insurmountable lead for one act then I’d think it only sensible to pick a winner’s single that that act could deliver well. And if that act just happened to be Diana, then choosing a power ballad would be financial suicide (even though the winner’s single is now virtually guaranteed to sell a million copies within seconds of hitting the shelves).

Mr. Source did, however, go on to say “They [those pesky contestants again] feel even if the public put her in the bottom two, the judges will always save her.”

Well of course that belies Mr. Source’s “intimate knowledge” of anything, because from now on the judges don’t get a say on who goes and who stays. From this week, it’s ALL down to the voting. So if Diana IS on course to win, her wedge of votes must be pretty impressive.

I’ll lay money on that fact not preventing Dermot from saying, at some point in the live final show, that the voting is “too close to call” and that “less than one percent” separates the last two acts, so everyone MUST carry on frantically throwing their money into Simon Cowell’s pockets

How much longer this farce can continue conning us all is anyone’s guess. [via DS]