These programmes are essentially a tax on stupidity.
Who on earth can possibly believe for a second that SC and his colleagues have even the remotest interest in which performer wins this second rate "Opportunity Knocks". It primarily consists of a series of indentikit wannabees performing bland and boring cover versions of established songs, with no orginality or star quality. The sole motivation is the bundles of cash the promoters, phone operators and presenters make out of persuading gullible morons to repeatedly call premium rate telephone numbers to vote for their favourite, and when they get kicked out, the half-wits then decide someone else is their favourite and call in to vote for them!!
That is the only reason for the well publicised controversy and public disagreements amongst the panel - to keep the calls coming in. The subsequent well-being or success of the winner is irrelelevant to them. There is a quick buck from the initial single and maybe even album (if it ever gets released) but by then the next reality show is on, and they are forgotten about. The only reality winners who seem to have survived are Girls Aloud (despite the efforts of Louis Walsh) and Kym Marsh who is now an actress on Coronation Street. And I think Will Young may have turned up in a film. Hardly a resounding accolade for the ability of these shows to identify and select the music industry stars of the future.
If you must throw your money away, at least donate it to a charity and not to these multi-millionaires who are laughing up their sleeves at the ease which which they persuade the flock of sheep that is the public, to part with their money.