I've never followed the programme, I'm afraid. Does it prefer the talentless to the talented?

I thought some of these talent shows did occasionally unearth someone good. The only one I can recall offhand was Mary Hopkin, who was probably picked for all the wrong reasons (long blonde hair, cute face) but who turned out in fact to be quite a find -- her Apple album was pretty good, and I've heard some later stuff of hers which was pretty fine.