NOW I swore to myself that I wouldn’t do it. I told all my friends there was no way that I’d do it.

I posted on Facebook and Tweeted that I would never ever do it. Basically everyone and their granny knew that I absolutely, under no circumstance, not even under pain of death, would do it.

But unfortunately, dear readers, last Sunday night I did do it and the shame of it is eating me up inside so much so that I have to tell someone because a wise woman once said: ‘the truth will set you free’ and all that jazz. So here it is....

I sat down of my own free will on Sunday evening and watched the X Factor only to conclude that it is in fact the Fix Factor and Louis Walsh is as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike. Now, having got my big break on Pop Idol nearly nine years ago, I can assure you I take absolutely no pleasure in speaking about talent shows in this manner.

Pop Idol was honestly the most amazing experience of my life and I have nothing but fantastically fond memories of my time on the show, mainly because it now seems so far removed from the over-the-top pantomime that now graces our screens each weekend.

As I’ve said, I haven’t seen any of the audition stages of the show and therefore couldn’t tell you anything about this year’s finalists other than the two unfortunate souls who found themselves in the sing-off last week.

In one corner, we had mentor Gary Barlow and finalist Carolynne Poole and in the other corner judge Nicole Scherzinger with possibly the most controversial man in the UK at the moment, Rylan Clark. Having no previous knowledge of either of these contestants I could only judge them both on their singing abilities and to be honest there was nothing to judge.

Carolynne had a lovely voice and gave a flawless rendition of a Faith Hill classic and Rylan genuinely gave one of the worst live vocal performance I have ever heard on any of these shows.

I’m sure he is a lovely guy and it’s not his fault he finds himself in this position, but I’m afraid a fact is a fact, and he did not sing anywhere near as well as his rival.

Based on that fact alone, I would have expected our industry professionals and Louis to have made the relatively straightforward decision to save Carolynne and send poor Rylan home. But, wait a minute, silly me how could I forget this isn’t a talent show about finding the best undiscovered singer/band in the UK today.

This is a TV show that is of course all about controversy, drama, jeopardy and mass publicity dominating newspaper headlines and sending social media sites into meltdown.

With that in mind, the X Factor producers are nothing short of genius, because after Sunday night’s decision that’s exactly what they achieved.

While we, the public are outraged, shocked, disgusted and vowing never ever to watch that farce again they are sitting in their multi-million pound penthouses laughing their heads off counting the money that’s pouring in knowing full well that this Saturday evening’s viewing figures and phone votes will be through the roof. and that whether he wanted it or not Rylan has just become this year’s biggest ratings winner for all the wrong reasons.

MAKE sure you check out the absolutely fantastic Robert Miller Art Exhibition at SoHo, in Miller Street, in Glasgow city centre. I went along on Tuesday evening and was completely blown away by this man’s talent.

His gift for capturing some of the most famous faces in showbiz history left most spectators gasping: “I can’t believe it’s a painting and not a photograph” as they viewed some of the exhibits. The exhibition is on now and runs until Thursday, November 1. Definitely worth a visit.