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X Factor voting complaints soar X Factor voting complaints soar
(about 4 hours later)
About 1,100 people have now complained to media watchdog Ofcom they were unable to vote by phone for Rhydian Roberts in The X Factor. The number of people to complain to media watchdog Ofcom they were unable to vote by phone for Rhydian Roberts in The X Factor has risen above 1,500.
The 24-year-old Welsh favourite was beaten to the title in Saturday's ITV live show by Scotland's Leon Jackson.The 24-year-old Welsh favourite was beaten to the title in Saturday's ITV live show by Scotland's Leon Jackson.
But Leon's mother claimed many of his supporters were also foiled in their attempt to call in and back him. But as the complaints shot up, ITV revealed Leon won by 10% of the vote and called it "fair and square".
The programme said the high number of calls meant some people were greeted by engaged tones. Leon's mother also claimed many of her son's supporters were also foiled in their attempt to phone in to back him.
Ofcom said earlier on Tuesday it had had 700 complaints, and that later jumped dramatically to 1,100. There had been 80 complaints on Monday, but the number shot up above 1,500 by Tuesday.
I just thought as a loyal Welsh person I should put in my vote for him, but it couldn't record my vote First Minister Rhodri Morgan
Some of those said they tried to vote dozens of times but could not get through.Some of those said they tried to vote dozens of times but could not get through.
"We are now working with [phone regulator] PhonepayPlus to investigate the matter," said a spokeswoman.
Ofcom said there was no timescale for the completion of its investigation.
Before Saturday's final, Rhydian was clear favourite, but he was pipped at the post and to a £1m recording contract by Scottish crooner Leon, who sang a duet with Kylie Minogue on the live show.Before Saturday's final, Rhydian was clear favourite, but he was pipped at the post and to a £1m recording contract by Scottish crooner Leon, who sang a duet with Kylie Minogue on the live show.
I just feel it's extra pressure now because I'll be under a lot of scrutiny and there's extra pressure for me to do well Leon Jackson
A stream of Rhydian supporters contacted the BBC to complain that they could not get through and some radio stations in Wales said they would boycott Leon's single and demand a recount.A stream of Rhydian supporters contacted the BBC to complain that they could not get through and some radio stations in Wales said they would boycott Leon's single and demand a recount.
Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan revealed he was among those who tried to call in but failed to get through. Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan revealed he was among those who tried to call in "as a loyal Welsh person" but failed to get through.
Mr Morgan told BBC Radio Wales: "I can confirm that at around 29 minutes past 10 I attempted to vote for Rhydian and I couldn't get through, so I think if thousands of people had the same experience as me..." he said. But ITV said while many Rhydian fans were disappointed, "the simple fact is that Leon won the X Factor fair and square".
Leon Jackson, 18, walked away with the £1m record deal The broadcaster said Leon "performed strongly across the series and was the outright winner on the night by a full 10% of the vote," although there was just 1% between the finalists before they sang their versions of the new single When You Believe.
Mr Morgan admitted he did not hear Rhydian, of Sennybridge, Powys, perform. ITV said it never normally revealed results but it wanted to clarify Leon's winning margin "to reassure viewers on this occasion."
"But I just thought as a loyal Welsh person I should put in my vote for him, but it couldn't record my vote so my telephone bill will be smaller," he said. 'Closer scrutiny'
No reported faults Leon told the BBC he felt he would be under closer scrutiny now: "I went and gave my best performance. You never know how the public is voting and that aspect of things is out of your hands," he said.
Leon told the BBC he felt he would be under closer scrutiny now:
"I went and gave my best performance. You never know how the public is voting and that aspect of things is out of your hands," he said.
"I just feel it's extra pressure now because I'll be under a lot of scrutiny and there's extra pressure for me to do well and produce really good stuff. I just want to give the public back something because they are the ones who put me in this position.""I just feel it's extra pressure now because I'll be under a lot of scrutiny and there's extra pressure for me to do well and produce really good stuff. I just want to give the public back something because they are the ones who put me in this position."
Supporters of Leon also claimed they had been unable to vote for him.Supporters of Leon also claimed they had been unable to vote for him.
Leon's mother Wendy Jackson told Glasgow-based Real Radio lots of people texted her to say they could not get through.Leon's mother Wendy Jackson told Glasgow-based Real Radio lots of people texted her to say they could not get through.
"I even had one person tell me they had tried 300 times to get through to Leon on the landline and they couldn't get through - so it's not just the Welsh folk that the lines were jammed, the Scottish ones were as well.""I even had one person tell me they had tried 300 times to get through to Leon on the landline and they couldn't get through - so it's not just the Welsh folk that the lines were jammed, the Scottish ones were as well."
X Factor production company Talkback Thames admitted some viewers trying to register their votes were met by the engaged tone, but blamed it on the sheer volume of calls. X Factor production company Talkback Thames blamed the engaged tone met by some viewers on the volume of calls. Some Virgin Media customers had problems, but that company said it had not found anything unusual so far.
"Some Virgin Media customers did experience problems getting through because of high call volumes, but there were no other reported faults on the lines."
A Virgin Media spokesperson said: "We are currently looking into the X Factor matter but so far have not found anything unusual.
  • Meanwhile, Rhydian's uncle denied they were disputing the result, "because we don't want to sound as a family churlish or that there's any sour grapes".
  • Meanwhile, Rhydian's uncle denied they were disputing the result, "because we don't want to sound as a family churlish or that there's any sour grapes".
    • Nigel Roberts told BBC Radio Wales Rhydian was due to sign a recording deal this week and hoped to do a tour.Nigel Roberts told BBC Radio Wales Rhydian was due to sign a recording deal this week and hoped to do a tour.