History's lessons to The X Factor

As X Factor finals weekend arrives, historians urge caution from modern-day Witchfinder General Simon Cowell and his dastardly cohortsSimon, Dannii, Louis and Cheryl are the kings and queens of Saturday night TV. They decide the soundtrack to our weekends, the arguments of our week, who will rise to the pop throne and what poor rejects will be touring the Norfolk caravan park circuit in five years' time (see Populist). But as with all great leaders, pitfalls await. Johnny Dee looks back through ...

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