telling an 11-year old she'll be World famous

[flipnflap]

2 of the 4 BGT judges just told contestant Molly Rainford that she will be World famous one day. All she's done so far is reach the final of a British TV talent contest. Is this a wise thing to be telling an 11-year old? I don't think so. In fact, I think it's positively stupid. There are also 2 young males in this final whom Simon Cowell has described as "brilliant singer/songwriters". You might think that if anyone knows Cowell does. But how many other contestants in past series of BGT [not to mention countless other Cowell shows] and they've gone nowhere. Anyone remember Jai or Ronan from last year? I've listened to these two singer/songwriters and, while their efforts are good, I wouldn't go further than that. I certainly wouldn't want to hear their songs again, let alone buy or download them.

[VHG]

Simon Cowell and the other panel members will say any old rubbish if it improves the shows ratings.

Over time I have realised this is less a talent show and more a "reality TV show" where the lives of the contestants (and the arguments of the panel) are far more "important" than any talent the contestants have got.

See it as a sort of "big brother" talent show, that all it is.

As you say, most people on these shows are forgotten the moment they are voted off.

[emmie]

It's a terrible thing to promise a child something that is fairly unlikely to happen. These shows promise much but rarely deliver.

[sherrardk]

You have to wonder about the parents and why they have let their child go on such a programme (I don't watch it but I spect her chances of winning are pretty slim so they are setting her up for a fall, bit cruel).

[sherrardk]

^ suspect

[cazzz1975]

This show is all about simon, the "acts" are barely given a second thought once the show finishes, its all about viewer ratings and gleaning money from phone voting, simon puts through bad acts deliberatly to keep ratings up, the most irritating acts can encourage people to pick up the phone to vote, not to mention how contrived and fake the whole programme is, simon must be laughing his socks off.

[cazzz1975]

still..with every new series another onslaught of attention seeking z listers are born

[flipnflap]

She didn't even make the top 3 on BGT, which makes those comments all the more ridiculous and ill-advised

[Ann]

She has a beautifully clear sweet voice though, so I expect they will be keeping their eye on her as she grows older and maybe give her a contract. I would like to think so, bless her.

[johnny37]

She can be a star of the future but uit will take a lot of time and effort and support of her parents. That said, I think there shoud be an age limit on the show. The two guitarists/singers were brilliant and I would be surprised if Simon had not signed them before the final. Its unfortunate that the dog won as there most be many human acts dying for a bit of tv exposure. It must be excrutiating for real entertainers to be up against children and animals and people with saucepans on their head and zimmerframes.

[China Doll]

I imagine telling her she wasn't much cop and probably not to expect too much in the future as it's just a british talent contest might be a trifle harsh for an 11 year old being watched by several million, bordering on humiliating. So perhaps the encouragement was a slightly better way forward. Anyway, it's for the parents to manage the kids expectations, not the judges.