Sting is agin it – and in my heart, so am I too. He says they are Karaoke performers, aping Celine Don, Whitney Houston and Take that. Actually he is right. It is a pantomime. it is a programme to boo and hiss at. It’s is not about music – it is about pop. Real talent wouldn’t be seen dead on it.

One problem with XFactor, is that we get to know the contestants too well. I just switched iTunes on and there is a promo photo of Leona Lewis, glammed up to the nines, pretending to be a Diva. Well, we know better, She is a charming young woman with a heck of a voice, which is not being wasted on the pap she is made to sing.

She always looks so uncomfortable, bumping and grinding away on her videos – it just isn’t her. She will probably come into her own when she is about thirty, her voice will be at it’s peak and she will be in a position to find herself proper artistic support. That is – unless she is just a very good karaoke singer.

Real, enduring popstars, are made on the road, driving from gig to gig, honing their performance and their style, building their following.

But of course, that’s not possible anymore – health and safety has banned live music – there’s nowhere left to play and learn the trade.