X Factor’s Saara Aalto leapfrogs Matt Terry to become bookies’ favourite as bosses launch probe into whether Finnish voters use loophole to back her
X Factor chiefs had insisted that votes were only cast in Britain
SAARA AALTO has leapfrogged MATT TERRY to become the bookies’ favourite to win this year’s X Factor.
But behind the scenes her achievement has been clouded by panic among telly bosses.
I can reveal that X Factor executives have launched an investigation into whether votes from Finland — Saara’s homeland — have been boosting her new-found success in the contest.
This weekend’s shows were screened live on TV in Finland for the first time and Finnish fans have posted to thousands of people on how to get round rules that limit voting to the UK.
X Factor chiefs had insisted that show votes were only cast in Britain.
But judge LOUIS WALSH told Saara in Finnish on Saturday night that he hoped people would vote for her — sparking speculation that he was urging fans in her homeland to help her reach this weekend’s final.
An insider said: “The app doesn’t say if you are voting from the UK so it’s hard to tell what is happening here.
“Saara was in the bottom two early in the competition but has now gone straight to being the favourite.
“Nobody is saying she hasn’t got a brilliant voice and that is why the judges have kept her in the show — because of her performances.
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“But it does beg the question of how many votes from Finland are getting through when it’s just supposed to be people in this country.”
Saara has come from behind the pack, not only to go ahead of Matt, but also boyband 5 AFTER MIDNIGHT and Scots singer EMILY MIDDLEMAS.
In SHARON OSBOURNE’s oldies category, she blew viewers away with her rendition of SIA’s Chandelier, which she sang in her audition.
She was previously seen on the show this weekend at the Finnish Embassy, where she was congratulated by Father Christmas himself.
An X Factor spokesman said of the voting irregularities claim: “Our investigations have shown there is no evidence that the vote result is being affected by this activity, though we are continuing to monitor the situation.”
The way things are going, Saara could well become the show’s most surprising winner yet.
Alan Davies' QI drama
ALAN DAVIES says QI’s punishing filming schedule almost pushed him to quit the popular BBC quiz show.
STEPHEN FRY stood down from the programme last year after 13 years in the host’s chair. At the time he said he didn’t want QI to “feel stale”.
But Alan says Stephen was left knackered by a schedule that often required them to shoot three episodes in a single 24-hour period.
Alan said: “For budget reasons, they ended up making him do three shows in 24 hours. Sometimes he’d go upstairs and have a vodka and tonic and a lie-down, then come back and say, ‘I don’t want to do this’.
“I sympathise because I felt exactly the same way. It’s not fair.” But Alan has enjoyed helping new host SANDI TOKSVIG settle in.
He said: “I’m her minder now, really. So if she does a joke that doesn’t go well, I’ll leap in and berate the audience – ‘Oi, back off!’ That kind of thing. But she’s exactly the right person.”
I’m sure Sandi can look after herself.
May has booking with doc
DOCTOR WHO has a huge following, with millions of viewers around the world.
But PETER CAPALDI will be surprised to learn that he has an unlikely fan in Prime Minister THERESA MAY – who says she cannot wait for this year’s Christmas special.
Theresa said she and husband Philip will be tuning in to watch the Tardis crew before treating themselves to a Poirot repeat over the festive period.
The PM told the Radio Times: “I always like to see Doctor Who on Christmas night, if possible, and a nice Agatha Christie to curl up with. DAVID SUCHET was a great Poirot – he got him to a T.”
But she said she hadn’t had a chance to study former political opponent ED BALLS’ performance on Strictly – in which he wowed the nation with his dances, especially the moves for Gangnam Style.
She added: “I like watching Strictly but my Saturday evenings tend to be busy so I wasn’t really able to see Ed. Just snatches on the Sunday results programme.”
When asked if she would take part when she retires, Theresa replied: “I can’t dance. It’s not a good idea.”
Peter may have won over Theresa as the Doctor but she might not have been as warm to him in his previous role as political spin doctor Malcolm Tucker in The Thick Of It.
Ferne freezes
THINGS looked a lot different for FERNE MCCANN at the Clothes Show in Birmingham — one year on from reaching the final of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
She braved the cold in a short blue dress but admitted she was getting teary ahead of the final.
She tweeted: “Omg can’t wait to watch. Makes me emosh thinking about it.”
The memory of eating an ostrich penis would make anyone emotional.
Soapbox
ROXY sparks tension with Jack when she fails to show any enthusiasm over a potential new school for Amy in EASTENDERS.
She is forced to confide in her sister Ronnie that she doesn’t really want her daughter to move away.
And Roxy drops a bombshell when she tells Ronnie that something may be going on between Jack and Honey.
Meanwhile there is passionate turmoil on CORONATION STREET when Aidan calls at Maria’s flat and kisses her.
He invites her to spend the night with him at a hotel, leaving Maria thrilled.
But she chucks him out after Aidan makes it clear he has no intention of finishing with Eva.