Unearthing gold in a sea of utter dross

CHANNEL HOPPING:

WHEN “The X Factor” went over to Dublin this week hoping to discover the next John and Edward, it was definitely a case of be careful what you wish for.

Talentless, tone deaf time-wasters poured on to the stage like pints of Guinness on St Paddy’s night leaving Emerald Isle native Louis Walsh more than a little red-faced.

The man who controversially championed the high-haired Jedward twins last year was drinking in the last chance saloon as the Irish auditions threatened to peter out with little more than a whimper. Then a last-gasp saviour in the shape (and size) of Susan Boyle served up a treat.

Fresh from the Tesco tills, 50-year-old single mum Mary Byrne stunned the judges with her powerful rendition of Shirley Bassey’s “This Is My Life”. It was a real SuBo moment . . . at last. Even SiCo told her: “You are seriously, seriously good.”

A real nugget in an otherwise drab show. Every little helps I suppose.


KONNIE Huq deserves a medal for fronting “The Xtra Factor” — or at the very least, a Blue Peter badge.

The former flagship children’s presenter thought the days of working with sticky-back plastic were long gone, until the X Factor’s cheesy cardboard cut-out sister-show came calling.

Holly Willoughby quit the backstage catastrophe last year for a career made earlier on the “This Morning” couch — she’s not as blonde as she looks. And Xtra was suddenly left with some almighty big, er . . . shoes, to fill.


BBC1 to ITV2 is quite a departure for anyone with broadcasting ambition, no matter the allure of quizzing the likes of Simon Cowell in make-up. But Konnie looks surprisingly at home mixing it with the stars, albeit on a programme no-one cares about, on a channel nobody watches.

The “Blue Peter” ship may have sailed. But don’t be surprised if this sinking star is handed a lifebelt next year. With Dermot O’Dreary looking increasingly out of his depth, cutie Konnie could be let off the hook to host the big one in 2011.



SOAP ROAR: The build-up to Corrie’s latest wedding was like something from an age-old silent movie. Hayley, the damsel in distress on the rail-road tracks battling to make it to the altar on time. Panic-stricken Roy’s face was a picture. Steaming good fun.



SOAP BORE: No such wedded bliss for the Beales in “EastEnders” as their marriage hit the buffers . . . again. Down-trodden Jane’s packed that suitcase more times than Judith Chalmers on a round-the-world trip.