document_title: Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom

question_text: who does the voice of nanny plum in ben and holly's little kingdom

question_tokens: who does the voice of nanny plum in ben and holly 's little kingdom

text: Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom

text: Plot elements[edit]

text: The show is set in the Little Kingdom which is hidden among thorny brambles. The Little Kingdom is ruled by King and Queen Thistle mainly from the Little Castle, where they live with their daughters Holly, Daisy and Poppy. Elves live at the Great Elf Tree, which acts as a school, library, apartment block and factory for toys and wands. Elves hold the belief that they should never arrive late to anything. Civil fairies live in the Fairy Village, which consists of toadstools which have doors and windows. Fairies use magic and most of the faries are named after flowers and plants. Elves have their own catchphrase, "...and I'm an Elf" (or "We're Elves"),or ELF MANNN, and fairies also have their own catchphrase, commonly "I'm a fairy". Elves tell the time with wrist watches and/or clocks, while fairies tell the time in very unconventional ways. The Elves operate Elf Rescue, the Elf Farm and the Elf Windmill. King Thistle likes to play golf and crazy golf at the Royal Course. Ben and Holly have a ladybird friend called Gaston. Nanny Plum and the Wise Old Elf are characters too, and they have important jobs to do in the context of the show. Mr and Mrs Elf are Ben's parents. The Wise Old Elf is not married anymore but has three sons.

text: Characters[edit]

text:
Ben Elf is one of the main characters alongside Princess Holly. He lives with his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Elf. He lives in the Great Elf Tree, number 4. He can be quite tentative when it comes to using magic, as Ben is a young elf. He does not have any siblings, but has many friends, and his best friend is Princess Holly. Ben is voiced by Preston Nyman.
Holly Thistle is a fairy and one of the main characters alongside Ben Elf. She lives with her parents, King and Queen Thistle, and with her little sisters, Daisy & Poppy. She likes to use magic despite the risk of things going wrong. Her best friend is Ben Elf. Holly is voiced by Sian Taylor.
Lucy She is Ben and Holly's Big Friend that became A Fairy at the beginning of the third season she wears a orange dress and has pale skin and Brown hair. Her Dad doesn't believe in fairies and elves but in 3rd Season he believes in elves and fairies. Lucy is Voiced by Abigail Daniels.

text:
King Thistle rules over the Little Kingdom. He is the husband of Queen Thistle and Princess Holly, Daisy, and Poppy's father. He is often hungry and grumpy, and sometimes hates having a bath. He dislikes celebrating his birthday because it reminds him he is getting older. When he was Holly's age, he was known as Prince Thistle. King Thistle is voiced by Ian Puleston-Davies.
Queen Thistle is the Queen in the Little Kingdom and the wife of King Thistle. She is Princess Holly, Daisy, and Poppy's mother. Queen Thistle is Queen Marigold's younger sister. She is one of the few people that can handle looking after Daisy and Poppy, though at times even she can be overwhelmed by the trouble they cause with their magic. Queen Thistle is voiced by Sara Crowe.
Daisy and Poppy are Holly's little twin sisters. They are not very good at magic as they are only babies, but this does not stop them from trying. They are quite cheeky and usually end up causing trouble with magic. As Daisy and Poppy can be very naughty, Holly sometimes dislikes her sisters. Due to the trouble they cause with their magic, most of the adult characters are wary of them, though Queen Thistle seems to be able to deal with them for the most part. Daisy and Poppy are voiced by Zoe Baker.
Nanny Plum is Holly, Daisy and Poppy's nanny and 'teacher', and a general housekeeper for the King and Queen. She is very good at magic and capable of speaking many animal languages (including ones which she claims to be a bit difficult such as Mole, Aardvark, Ant, Centipede and Alien). She often ends up in all kinds of trouble when trying to help Holly and friends. She is also a tooth fairy. Although being quite bossy, she is very good at cleaning with magic. She rivals the Wise Old Elf mainly due to their differing opinions over the use of magic. She is a teacher at the Fairy School and also works as a maid. Nanny Plum is voiced by Sarah Ann Kennedy.
The Wise Old Elf lives in the same tree as Ben at the top in room 98. He also is the Wise Old Tailor, the elf doctor and the librarian. He also runs the Elf School and The Elf factory. He rivals Nanny Plum and strongly disapproves of magic, but used to admire magic and enjoyed himself when he was briefly given the ability to use magic. He also secretly used magic to fuel the Elf Engine that runs the Elf Factory, as it is clean energy ("a very small Carbon Footprint") and never runs out except on No Magic Day that occurs every blue moon. He had three sons, two of which are pirates, Redbeard the Elf Pirate and Captain Squid, and a sensible son who later decided to be a Viking, as shown in the episode 'Fathers Day'. The Wise Old Elf's real name is Cedric. He went to college with Granny and Granpapa Thistle. He has a twin brother, an Arctic Elf named The Wiser Older Elf. The Wise Old Elf is voiced by David Graham.
Gaston Ladybird is a male ladybird who lives in a small cave. He likes his house being messy as well as food that is "smelly and foul". He does not mind giving Ben rides when Ben needs to fly. Nanny Plum translates for him quite often. He acts quite similar to a dog, making a barking sound when he 'speaks', and fetching sticks. Gaston has a brother, Tony, a sister-in-law, Pam, two nieces, Amber and Emerald, and a nephew, Keith. Gaston is voiced by Taig McNab, who is also credited as Editor for Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom.
Redbeard the Elf Pirate is Barnaby's pirate uncle. He claims to be a pirate, yet is good in nature. As his size prevents him from engaging in acts of piracy, he is more of a treasure hunter and explorer. He is quite smitten with Nanny Plum who he considers to be his sweetheart, though Nanny seems to have little interest in him romantically. He has a pet parrot, though it is normal sized and barely fits inside Redbeard's ship. Redbeard is voiced by David Rintoul.
Lucy is a human girl (one of the 'big people' to the citizens of the little kingdom) and one of Ben and Holly's friends. She lives with her parents. She befriends Ben and Holly when they accompany Nanny Plum while she is on the job as the tooth fairy and was woken up by them, but keeps their existence a secret. Lucy is voiced by Abigail Daniels.
Sally (Credited as "Lucy's Mum") is Lucy's mother who lives near the little kingdom with Lucy and her husband. Unlike her husband, Sally was aware of the existence of Elves and Fairies as she been friends with Nanny Plum, Prince Thistle (King Thistle when he was younger), and the Wise Old Elf, when she was a little girl and like her daughter, keeps their existence a secret.
Lucy's Father lives near the little kingdom with Lucy and his wife. Whilst initially unaware of the existence of the little kingdom, he discovered their existence as a result of the attempts of the citizens of the little kingdom to prevent him building a place for his cows in the meadow where the little kingdom is located. He keeps their existence a secret, though he does so as he seems to think that other people would think he was crazy if he told them.
Mrs. Fig is the teacher of the Magic School. Nanny Plum used to go there and Holly and her friends went there when they were old enough. Despite being a fairy, she detests magic and says the most important rules of magic are "Don't use magic" and "Magic should only be used for serious things". As a result, the Wise Old Elf likes her as they have similar views on magic. Mrs. Fig loathes Nanny Plum, who is implied to have been her worst student as she does not adhere to Mrs. Fig's ideas on magic. Mrs. Fig is voiced by Morwenna Banks.
Mrs. Fotheringill is Daisy and Poppy's playgroup teacher. She was at one point sent back in time to the age of the dinosaurs by Daisy, Poppy, and the other fairy children in her playgroup.
Fairy Mayor This character is based on Boris Johnson, the ex-mayor of London.[4] He is Strawberry's dad and the vet's husband. He doesn't like "big people" because they always step on fairies and elves. Fairy Mayor is voiced by Alexander Armstrong.

text: Written language[edit]

text: Most of the text seen in the episodes is in Lorem ipsum, a dummy text used in the printing industry and based on Latin. However, German and English text does occasionally appear. There are also some examples of a runic script (loosely based on Futhorc) that appear in the dwarf mine and in secret tunnels beneath the little castle.[5]

text: Voice cast[edit]

text:
Character
Voice
Magic Gender

Ben Elf
Preston Nyman
Male Elf

Princess Holly
Sian Taylor
Female Fairy

Gaston the Ladybird
Taig McNab
Male Ladybird

Nanny Plum
Sarah Ann Kennedy
Female Fairy

King Thistle
Ian Puleston-Davies
Male Fairy

Queen Thistle
Sara Crowe
Female Fairy

Mrs Elf
Judy Flynn
Female Elf

Mr Elf
John Sparkes
Male Elf

Wise Old Elf
David Graham
Male Elf

Violet
Lucy Moss
Female Fairy

Strawberry
Zara Siddiqi
Female Fairy

text: Episodes[edit]


document_title: The X Factor (UK series 7)

question_text: who won x factor when one direction was in it

question_tokens: who won x factor when one direction was in it

root

text: The X Factor (UK series 7)

text: Judges, presenters and other personnel[edit]

text: In February 2010, Dannii Minogue confirmed that she would not attend the auditions for series 7 due to being pregnant.[3] It was confirmed that guest judges would take Minogue's place alongside Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole during the auditions. The guest judges were Geri Halliwell, Natalie Imbruglia, Katy Perry, Pixie Lott and Nicole Scherzinger. On 11 June, Minogue was confirmed by ITV to return for the judges' houses stage.[4] Cole missed the Manchester auditions and bootcamp due to having malaria, so Scherzinger returned as a guest judge for bootcamp. Cole then returned for the judges' houses stage. Dermot O'Leary returned for his fourth series as presenter of the main show on ITV, but Holly Willoughby did not return for her third series as presenter on The Xtra Factor on ITV2 and was replaced by Konnie Huq. Brian Friedman returned as creative director, while Ali Tennant and Savan Kotecha were hired as vocal coaches. However, Tennant's contract was ended before the live shows and was replaced by Yvie Burnett, who worked as vocal coach from series 2–6. Richard "Biff" Stannard began working as show song producer for Minogue's contestant, and Grace Woodward began working on the show as fashion director.

tag: p

text: Selection process[edit]

text: Applications and auditions[edit]

text: The first appeal for applicants for series 7 was broadcast during series 6 on 5 December 2009. Applicants for the seventh series were given the opportunity to apply by uploading a video audition to the Internet.[5] Auditions began in June 2010 in six cities: Glasgow (SECC, 9 June), Birmingham (LG Arena, 13–14 June), London (ExCeL London, 21–24 June), Dublin (Convention Centre Dublin, 28 June), Cardiff (International Arena, 2 July), and Manchester (Manchester Central, 9–11 July). Dublin returned as an audition city for the first time since the third series in 2006.[6]

text: Halliwell was the first guest judge, and attended the Glasgow auditions.[7][8] Imbruglia was the second guest judge, appearing for the Birmingham auditions.[6] The guest judge slot was axed for the London auditions,[9] but continued with Perry judging in Dublin,[10] Lott in Cardiff and Scherzinger at the auditions in Manchester.[11] Cole was unable to attend the Manchester auditions because she had contracted malaria[12] and was not replaced for them.

text: The first episode, broadcast on 21 August 2010, featured auditions from Glasgow and London,[13][14] while episode two, on 28 August, showcased Dublin's auditions and more from London.[15] More London auditions were shown on 4 September, along with those from Birmingham,[16] and Cardiff was featured in the 11 September broadcast along with the final set of London auditions.[17] Finally, the Manchester auditions were shown in the 18 and 19 September episodes.[18][19]

text:
Summary of auditions

City
Date(s)
Venue
Guest judge(s)
Permanent judges

Glasgow
9 June 2010
SECC
Geri Halliwell
Louis Walsh
Cheryl Cole
Simon Cowell

Birmingham
13–14 June 2010
LG Arena
Natalie Imbruglia

London
21–24 June 2010
ExCeL London
None

Dublin
28 June 2010
Convention Centre Dublin
Katy Perry

Cardiff
2 July 2010
International Arena
Pixie Lott

Manchester
9–11 July 2010
Manchester Central
Nicole Scherzinger
Louis Walsh
Simon Cowell

tag: table

text: Bootcamp[edit]

text: The bootcamp stage of the competition began on 22 July 2010 at Wembley Arena, London and was broadcast on 25–26 September.[20] Minogue continued her maternity leave and Cole did not attend because she was still in recovery.[21] As Cole and Minogue were absent, producers of the show decided to axe bootcamp's live audience.[22] The bootcamp stage was broadcast in two episodes on 25 and 26 September. The first day of bootcamp saw Cowell and Walsh split the 211 acts into their four categories: Boys, Girls, Over 25s and Groups. They received vocal coaching and each category later performed one song: the Boys sang "Man in the Mirror", the Girls sang "If I Were a Boy", the Over 25s sang "Poker Face" and the Groups sang "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now". At the end of the day, the number of acts was cut to 108. On the second day, acts were given dance lessons by creative director Brian Friedman but they were not judged on their performances.[23]

text: Scherzinger then returned as a guest judge on the third day, where each act performed one song from a list of 40.[23][24] On the fifth day,[25] Scherzinger suggested that the Over-25s category be changed to Over 28s, as the quality of older singers was high. The Boys and Girls categories then comprised singers aged 16 to 28, rather than 16 to 25.[26][27] As the groups category was the weakest, five rejected soloists from the Boys category and four from the Girls category were asked to form two groups, One Direction and Belle Amie respectively.[25][28][29] After bootcamp, each judge was assigned a category: Cowell was given the Groups, Walsh had the Over-28s, Minogue was asked to look after the Boys and Cole was assigned the Girls.[28]

text: Judges' houses and wildcards[edit]

text: Minogue and Cole returned to the judging panel for the judges' houses stage of the competition,[6] where each judge mentored eight acts, increased from six in previous series.[26][29] Each judge had help from a guest judge to choose their final acts. Original judge Sharon Osbourne returned to assist Walsh at Adare Manor in Adare, County Limerick, Ireland,[30] Cole was assisted by will.i.am in Coworth Park, Ascot, Berkshire, England,[31][32] Cowell by Sinitta in Marbella, Spain,[33] and Natalie Imbruglia returned to assist Minogue in Melbourne, Australia.[34] Contestants spent a week at judges' houses and performed two songs for their respective judge.[35] Each judge and their guest eliminated five acts, leaving twelve remaining. The judges' houses stage was broadcast in two episodes on 2 and 3 October 2010.

text:
Summary of judges' houses

Judge
Category
Location
Assistant
Contestants eliminated[36]
Wildcards

Cole
Girls
Coworth Park, Berkshire
will.i.am
Keri Arrindell, Annastasia Baker, Gamu Nhengu, Raquel Thomas
Treyc Cohen

Cowell
Groups
Marbella
Sinitta
Husstle, Princes and Rogues, The Reason, Twem
Diva Fever

Minogue
Boys
Melbourne
Natalie Imbruglia
Karl Brown, Marlon McKenzie, Tom Richards, John Wilding
Paije Richardson

Walsh
Over 28s
Adare Manor, County Limerick
Sharon Osbourne
Stephen Hunter, Yuli Minguel, Elesha Moses, Justin Vanderhyde
Wagner

text: In the first live show on 9 October, Paije Richardson, Treyc Cohen, Wagner and Diva Fever were brought back as wildcards.[37]

text: Finalists[edit]

text: After the wildcards were revealed in the first live show, the final sixteen acts were confirmed as follows:

text: Key:

text:
Category (mentor)
Acts

Boys (Minogue)
Matt Cardle
Nicolo Festa
Aiden Grimshaw
Paije Richardson

Girls (Cole)
Treyc Cohen
Rebecca Ferguson
Cher Lloyd
Katie Waissel

Over 28s (Walsh)
John Adeleye
Mary Byrne
Storm Lee
Wagner

Groups (Cowell)
Belle Amie
Diva Fever
F.Y.D
One Direction

text: Live shows[edit]

text: Format[edit]

text: The live shows took place at The Fountain Studios in Wembley, north-west London.[38] They started on 9 October 2010, with contestants performing on the Saturday night shows and the results being announced on the Sunday night shows. As previously, each week had a different song theme. The two acts with the fewest public votes were in the bottom two and sang again in the "final showdown". The songs they performed in the bottom two were of their own choice and did not necessarily follow that week's theme. The four judges then each chose one act from the bottom two that they wanted to be eliminated from the show. If each act received an equal number of judges' votes, the result was deadlocked and the act with the fewest public votes was eliminated. The first live show was extended to two and a half hours to include a surprise twist,[39] namely that each judge was given a wildcard, allowing them to bring back one rejected act from judges' houses, thus bringing the number of finalists up from twelve to sixteen.[40] Owing to the addition of the wildcards, the first two results were double eliminations. The eighth result was also a double elimination.[41] In the case of a double elimination, instead of the bottom two, the bottom three were announced and the act with the fewest votes was automatically eliminated. The two remaining acts from the bottom three then performed in the final showdown.[42][43] Starting from the eighth week of live shows, contestants performed two songs each on the Saturday night.[44]

text: At the start of each results show, the remaining finalists performed a song as a group. However, the song was pre-recorded and the contestants mimed, because of technical issues with mixing the number of microphones.[45] Starting this series, the contestants' live performances were made available to download from iTunes.[46] However, the songs are not eligible to chart to protect the integrity of the contest.[47] Viewers in Ireland were allowed vote again, having been unable to for four years.[48]

text: Each results show featured a number of guest performers. Joe McElderry and Usher performed on the first live results show,[37] and Diana Vickers and Katy Perry performed in the second week.[43] The third results show featured performances from judge Cole and Michael Bublé.[49] Rihanna, Bon Jovi and Jamiroquai performed in the fourth results show,[50] and Shayne Ward and Kylie Minogue performed in the fifth week.[51] Take That, Westlife and JLS all performed on the sixth results show,[52] and Olly Murs performed on the seventh.[53] Week eight featured performances from Justin Bieber, The Wanted and Nicole Scherzinger.[54] The cast of Glee performed on the semi-final on 5 December,[55] along with Alexandra Burke and The Black Eyed Peas.[56] Rihanna performed again in the first show of the final, and Christina Aguilera also performed.[57] Take That performed again in the second show of the final.[58]

text: The final took place on 11 and 12 December, with each episode lasting two hours. During the first show, the voting lines were frozen and the fourth placed contestant was eliminated. The votes carried over and the third placed contestant left on the second show following another freeze. The final two performed the potential winner's singles before the winner was announced.[59]

text: Results summary[edit]

text:
–
Contestant was in the bottom two/three and had to sing again in the final showdown

     –
Contestant was in the bottom three but received the fewest votes and was immediately eliminated

     –
Contestant received the fewest public votes and was immediately eliminated (no final showdown)

     –
Contestant received the most public votes

text:
Weekly results per contestant[60]

Contestant
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10

Saturday
Sunday

Round 1
Round 2

Matt Cardle
2nd
15.14%
1st
24.39%
1st
23.97%
1st
20.60%
1st
33.41%
1st
23.16%
1st
18.44%
1st
31.95%
1st
35.84%
1st
39.92%
1st
39.83%2
Winner
44.61%2

Rebecca Ferguson
6th
6.51%
5th
7.99%
5th
8.46%
5th
9.79%
2nd
12.80%
2nd
18.24%
3rd
12.85%
2nd
13.98%
2nd
20.22%
2nd
25.71%
2nd
32.80%2
Runner-up
38.63%2

One Direction
4th
10.04%
3rd
9.84%
3rd
11.08%
4th
11.79%
3rd
12.13%
3rd
14.44%
4th
12.65%
4th
11.90%
3rd
17.38%
3rd
17.38%
3rd
20.72%2
Eliminated
(week 10)

Cher Lloyd
3rd
10.31%
6th
7.17%
4th
9.12%
2nd
19.72%
5th
7.64%
5th
8.88%
8th
8.00%
3rd
13.19%
5th
11.57%
4th
15.83%
Eliminated
(week 10)

Mary Byrne
1st
22.28%
2nd
18.55%
2nd
13.92%
3rd
11.98%
4th
12.02%
4th
10.66%
5th
11.97%
5th
11.29%
4th
14.99%
Eliminated
(week 9)

Wagner
12th
1.91%
11th
2.47%
9th
4.50%
8th
4.77%
8th
4.21%
7th
6.30%
6th
9.90%
6th
10.48%
Eliminated
(week 8)

Katie Waissel
15th
1.55%
8th
4.30%
8th
5.95%
10th
2.73%
10th
3.22%
8th
5.29%
2nd
16.82%
7th
7.21%
Eliminated
(week 8)

Paije Richardson
7th
5.83%
9th
3.80%
7th
6.10%
7th
6.22%
7th
5.19%
6th
8.02%
7th
9.37%
Eliminated
(week 7)

Aiden Grimshaw
5th
9.78%
4th
8.82%
6th
6.58%
6th
6.70%
6th
5.85%
9th
5.01%
Eliminated
(week 6)

Treyc Cohen
8th
4.82%
10th
2.82%
12th
2.39%
9th
3.14%
9th
3.53%
Eliminated
(week 5)

Belle Amie
11th
2.13%
13th
1.86%
10th
4.15%
11th
2.56%
Eliminated
(week 4)

John Adeleye
9th
2.46%
7th
4.50%
11th
3.78%
Eliminated
(week 3)

Diva Fever
10th
2.28%
12th
2.05%
Eliminated
(week 2)

Storm Lee
13th
1.89%
14th
1.44%
Eliminated
(week 2)

F.Y.D.
14th
1.71%
Eliminated
(week 1)

Nicolo Festa
16th
1.31%
Eliminated
(week 1)

Final showdown
F.Y.D.,
Waissel
Belle Amie,
Diva Fever
Adeleye,
Cohen
Belle Amie,
Waissel
Cohen,
Waissel
Grimshaw,
Waissel
Lloyd,
Richardson
Byrne,
Wagner
Byrne,
Lloyd
No final showdown or judges' votes: results were based on public votes alone

Judges voted to
Eliminate
Send through

Walsh's vote
F.Y.D.
Diva Fever
Cohen
Waissel
Cohen
Waissel
Richardson
Wagner
Byrne

Minogue's vote
F.Y.D.
Diva Fever
Adeleye
Belle Amie
Waissel
Waissel
Lloyd
Wagner
Lloyd

Cole's vote
F.Y.D.
Diva Fever
Adeleye
Belle Amie
None (refused)
Grimshaw
Richardson
Wagner
Lloyd

Cowell's vote
Waissel
N/A1
Adeleye
Waissel
Cohen
Grimshaw
Richardson
N/A1
Lloyd

Eliminated
Nicolo Festa
1.31%
to save
Storm Lee
1.44%
to save
John Adeleye
3 of 4 votes
Majority
Belle Amie
2 of 4 votes
Deadlock
Treyc Cohen
2 of 3 votes
Majority
Aiden Grimshaw
2 of 4 votes
Deadlock
Paije Richardson
3 of 4 votes
Majority
Katie Waissel
7.21%
to save
Mary Byrne
1 of 4 votes
Minority
Cher Lloyd
15.83%
to win
One Direction
20.72%
to win
Rebecca Ferguson
38.63%
to win

F.Y.D.
3 of 4 votes
Majority
Diva Fever
3 of 3 votes
Majority
Wagner
3 of 3 votes
Majority

Reference(s)
[61][62]
[61][63]
[61][64]
[50][61]
[51][61]
[52][61]
[53][61]
[61][65]
[61][66]
[57][61]
[58][61]

text:
^1 Cowell was not required to vote as there was already a majority.
^2 The voting percentages in week 10 for Sunday rounds 1 and 2 do not add up to 100%, owing to the freezing of votes. Cher Lloyd received 6.65% of the vote at the second freeze, and 4.07% of the final vote. One Direction received 12.69% of the final vote.[61]

tag: ul

text: Live show details[edit]

text: Week 1 (9/10 October)[edit]

text:
Theme: Number-one singles[37]
Group performance: "The Rhythm of the Night"[67]
Musical guests: Usher ("DJ Got Us Fallin' in Love" / "OMG")[37][68] and Joe McElderry ("Ambitions")[69]

text:
Contestants' performances on the first live show

Act
Order
Song[70][71]
Result[62]

F.Y.D
1
"Billionaire"
Bottom three

Matt Cardle
2
"When Love Takes Over"
Safe

John Adeleye
3
"One Sweet Day"
Safe

Rebecca Ferguson
4
"Teardrops"
Safe

Storm Lee
5
"We Built This City"
Safe

Belle Amie
6
"Airplanes"
Safe

Cher Lloyd
7
"Just Be Good to Me"
Safe

Diva Fever
8
"Sunny"
Safe

Paije Richardson
9
"Killing Me Softly"
Safe

Katie Waissel
10
"We Are the Champions"
Bottom three

Mary Byrne
11
"It's a Man's Man's Man's World"
Safe

Nicolo Festa
12
"Just Dance"
Eliminated

One Direction
13
"Viva la Vida"
Safe

Wagner
14
"She Bangs"/"Love Shack"
Safe

Aiden Grimshaw
15
"Mad World"
Safe

Treyc Cohen
16
"One"
Safe

Final showdown details[72]

F.Y.D
1
"Don't Stop the Music"
Eliminated

Katie Waissel
2
"Don't Let Me Down"
Safe

text: Owing to the addition of four wildcard contestants, two acts were eliminated from the series' first results show.[37] The three acts with the fewest votes were announced as the bottom three and the act with the fewest public votes was then automatically eliminated. The remaining two acts then performed in the final showdown for the judges' votes.[62]

text:
Cowell: Katie Waissel – backed his own act, F.Y.D.
Cole: F.Y.D. – based on the final showdown performance, effectively backing her own act, Katie Waissel
Minogue: F.Y.D. – based on the final showdown performance
Walsh: F.Y.D. – stated that he had to choose the act with more potential, as well as "the right act"

text: Week 2 (16/17 October)[edit]

text:
Theme: Heroes[73][74]
Group performance: "Telephone"[63]
Musical guests: Diana Vickers ("My Wicked Heart")[75] and Katy Perry ("Firework")[63]

text:
Contestants' performances on the second live show

Act
Order
Song[73]
Hero[73]
Result[63]

Storm Lee
1
"Born to Run"
Bruce Springsteen
Eliminated

Treyc Cohen
2
"Purple Rain"
Prince
Safe

Paije Richardson
3
"If I Ain't Got You"
Alicia Keys
Safe

One Direction
4
"My Life Would Suck Without You"
Kelly Clarkson
Safe

Cher Lloyd
5
"It's the Hard Knock Life"/"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)"
Jay-Z
Safe

John Adeleye
6
"A Song for You"
Donny Hathaway
Safe

Diva Fever
7
"Gotta Go Home"[76] / "Barbra Streisand"
Boney M.[77]
Bottom three

Rebecca Ferguson
8
"Feeling Good"
Nina Simone
Safe

Aiden Grimshaw
9
"Jealous Guy"
John Lennon
Safe

Wagner
10
"Help Yourself"
Tom Jones
Safe

Katie Waissel
11
"I'd Rather Go Blind"
Etta James
Safe

Belle Amie
12
"You Really Got Me"
The Kinks
Bottom three

Mary Byrne
13
"You Don't Have to Say You Love Me"
Dusty Springfield
Safe

Matt Cardle
14
"Just the Way You Are"
Bruno Mars
Safe

Final showdown details[63]

Diva Fever
1
"I Will Survive"
Eliminated

Belle Amie
2
"Big Girls Don't Cry"
Safe

text: Owing to the addition of the wildcard contestants, two acts were eliminated from the series' second results show. The three acts with the fewest public votes were announced as the bottom three and then the act with the fewest votes was automatically eliminated. The remaining two acts then performed in the final showdown for the judges' votes.[43]

text:
Walsh: Diva Fever – thought Belle Amie would get better in the competition
Minogue: Diva Fever – based on final showdown performances
Cole: Diva Fever – gave no reason
Cowell was not required to vote as there was already a majority and refused to say how he would have voted as he was mentor to both acts

text: Week 3 (23/24 October)[edit]

text:
Theme: Guilty pleasures[78]
Group performance: "Forget You"[64]
Musical guests: Michael Bublé ("Hollywood") and Cheryl Cole ("Promise This")[64]

text:
Contestants' performances on the third live show

Act
Order
Song[79]
Result[64]

Paije Richardson
1
"Ain't Nobody"
Safe

John Adeleye
2
"Zoom"
Bottom two

Rebecca Ferguson
3
"Why Don't You Do Right?"
Safe

Cher Lloyd
4
"No Diggity"/"Shout"
Safe

Matt Cardle
5
"...Baby One More Time"
Safe

One Direction
6
"Nobody Knows"
Safe

Treyc Cohen
7
"Whole Lotta Love"
Bottom two

Mary Byrne
8
"I (Who Have Nothing)"
Safe

Aiden Grimshaw
9
"Diamonds Are Forever"
Safe

Belle Amie
10
"I'll Stand by You"
Safe

Wagner
11
"Spice Up Your Life"/"Livin' la Vida Loca"
Safe

Katie Waissel
12
"I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)"
Safe

Final showdown details[64]

John Adeleye
1
"Because of You"
Eliminated

Treyc Cohen
2
"One Night Only"
Safe

text:
Walsh: Treyc Cohen – said Adeleye had more potential, effectively backing his own act, John Adeleye
Minogue: John Adeleye – based on the final showdown performances
Cole: John Adeleye – backed her own act, Treyc Cohen
Cowell: John Adeleye – based on final showdown performances and stated that Adeleye was not improving as much as Cohen

text: Week 4 (30/31 October)[edit]

text:
Theme: Halloween[81]
Group performance: "Livin' on a Prayer" (with Bon Jovi)[50]
Musical guests: Bon Jovi with finalists ("Livin' on a Prayer"), Jamiroquai ("White Knuckle Ride") and Rihanna ("Only Girl (In the World)")[50]

text:
Contestants' performances on the fourth live show

Act
Order
Song[82]
Result[50]

Mary Byrne
1
"Could It Be Magic"
Safe

Aiden Grimshaw
2
"Thriller"
Safe

Belle Amie
3
"Venus"
Bottom two

Rebecca Ferguson
4
"Wicked Game"
Safe

Treyc Cohen
5
"Relight My Fire"
Safe

Matt Cardle
6
"Bleeding Love"
Safe

Wagner
7
"O Fortuna" / "Bat Out of Hell"
Safe

Paije Richardson
8
"Back to Black"
Safe

Katie Waissel
9
"Bewitched"
Bottom two

One Direction
10
"Total Eclipse of the Heart"
Safe

Cher Lloyd
11
"Stay"
Safe

Final showdown details[50]

Belle Amie
1
"Breakaway"
Eliminated

Katie Waissel
2
"Trust in Me"
Safe

text:
Cowell: Katie Waissel – backed his own act, Belle Amie
Cole: Belle Amie – gave no reason, though effectively backed her own act, Katie Waissel
Minogue: Belle Amie – based on the final showdown performance
Walsh: Katie Waissel – gave no reason

text: With the acts in the bottom two receiving two votes each, the result was deadlocked and reverted to the earlier public vote. Belle Amie were eliminated as the act with the fewest public votes.[50]

text: Week 5 (6/7 November)[edit]

text:
Theme: American anthems[83]
Group performance: "So What"[51]
Musical guests: Shayne Ward ("Gotta Be Somebody") and Kylie Minogue ("Better than Today")[51]

text:
Contestants' performances on the fifth live show

Act
Order
Song[83]
Result[51]

Cher Lloyd
1
"Empire State of Mind (Part II)"/"Empire State of Mind"
Safe

Mary Byrne
2
"There You'll Be"
Safe

Katie Waissel
3
"Don't Speak"
Bottom two

Aiden Grimshaw
4
"Nothing Compares 2 U"
Safe

Paije Richardson
5
"I'm a Believer"/"Hey Ya!"
Safe

Rebecca Ferguson
6
"Make You Feel My Love"
Safe

Wagner
7
"Viva Las Vegas"/"The Wonder of You"
Safe

Matt Cardle
8
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face"
Safe

Treyc Cohen
9
"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"
Bottom two

One Direction
10
"Kids in America"
Safe

Final showdown details[51]

Katie Waissel
1
"Don't Give Up on Me"
Safe

Treyc Cohen
2
"Un-Break My Heart"
Eliminated

text:
Cowell: Treyc Cohen – based on who he would prefer to see again the following week
Cole refused to vote off either of her acts and offered to vote last to force a deadlock, but O'Leary then announced it would go to a majority vote
Minogue: Katie Waissel – gave no reason
Walsh: Treyc Cohen – stated that he would follow his heart and save Katie Waissel

text: Week 6 (13/14 November)[edit]

text:
Theme: Songs by Elton John[85][86]
Group performance: "Can't Stop Moving"[87]
Musical guests: JLS ("Love You More"), Westlife ("Safe") and Take That ("The Flood")[87]

text:
Contestants' performances on the sixth live show

Act
Order
Song[86]
Result[52]

Paije Richardson
1
"Crocodile Rock"
Safe

Aiden Grimshaw
2
"Rocket Man"
Bottom two

Mary Byrne
3
"Can You Feel the Love Tonight"
Safe

Katie Waissel
4
"Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"
Bottom two

Matt Cardle
5
"Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"
Safe

Cher Lloyd
6
"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"/"Mockingbird"
Safe

Wagner
7
"I'm Still Standing"/"Circle of Life"
Safe

One Direction
8
"Something About the Way You Look Tonight"
Safe

Rebecca Ferguson
9
"Candle in the Wind"
Safe

Final showdown details[52]

Aiden Grimshaw
1
"Don't Dream It's Over"
Eliminated

Katie Waissel
2
"Save Me from Myself"
Safe

text:
Cowell: Aiden Grimshaw – gave no reason
Cole: Aiden Grimshaw – backed her own act, Katie Waissel
Minogue: Katie Waissel – gave no reason, though effectively backed her own act, Aiden Grimshaw
Walsh: Katie Waissel – felt Grimshaw had more potential

text: With the acts in the bottom two receiving two votes each, the result was deadlocked and reverted to the earlier public vote. Grimshaw was eliminated as the act with the fewest public votes.[52]

text: Week 7 (20/21 November)[edit]

text:
Theme: Songs by The Beatles[89][90]
Group performance: "Heroes" (all finalists)[53]
Musical guest: Olly Murs ("Thinking of Me")[53]

text:
Contestants' performances on the seventh live show

Act
Order
Song[90]
Result[53]

Matt Cardle
1
"Come Together"
Safe

Cher Lloyd
2
"Imagine"
Bottom two

One Direction
3
"All You Need Is Love"
Safe

Rebecca Ferguson
4
"Yesterday"
Safe

Mary Byrne
5
"Something"
Safe

Paije Richardson
6
"Let It Be"
Bottom two

Wagner
7
"Get Back"/"Hippy Hippy Shake"/"Hey Jude"
Safe

Katie Waissel
8
"Help!"
Safe

Final showdown details[53]

Paije Richardson
1
"Stop!"
Eliminated

Cher Lloyd
2
"Stay"
Safe

text:
Cowell: Paije Richardson – said he would want to back Lloyd whom he had continually supported
Cole: Paije Richardson – backed her own act, Cher Lloyd
Minogue: Cher Lloyd – backed her own act, Paije Richardson
Walsh: Paije Richardson – gave no reason

text: Week 8 (27/28 November)[edit]

text:
Theme: Rock[91]
Musical guests: The Wanted ("Lose My Mind"),[92] Justin Bieber ("Somebody to Love" / "Baby") and Nicole Scherzinger ("Poison")[65]

text: For the first time this series, each contestant performed two songs.[44]

text:
Contestants' performances on the eighth live show

Act
Order
First song[93]
Order
Second song[93]
Result[65]

Wagner
1
"Creep"
8
"Addicted to Love"
Bottom three

One Direction
2
"Summer of '69"
9
"You Are So Beautiful"
Safe

Mary Byrne
3
"All I Want Is You"
10
"Brass in Pocket"
Bottom three

Cher Lloyd
4
"Girlfriend"
14
"Walk This Way"
Safe

Rebecca Ferguson
5
"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
11
"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
Safe

Matt Cardle
6
"I Love Rock 'n' Roll"
13
"Nights in White Satin"
Safe

Katie Waissel
7
"Sex on Fire"
12
"Everybody Hurts"
Eliminated

Final showdown details[65]

Wagner
1
"Unforgettable"
Eliminated

Mary Byrne
2
"This Is My Life"
Safe

text: Two acts were eliminated from the series' eighth results show.[41] The three acts with the fewest votes were announced as the bottom three and then the act with the fewest votes was automatically eliminated. The remaining two acts then performed in the final showdown for the judges' votes.

text:
Walsh: Wagner – based on the final showdown performances
Minogue: Wagner – backed Byrne whom she thought was the better singer
Cole: Wagner – gave no reason
Cowell was not required to vote as there was already a majority, but stated that he would have voted for Wagner as he wanted to return the show to being a talent competition

text: Week 9: Semi-final (4/5 December)[edit]

text:
Themes: Club classics; "songs to get you to the final" (no theme)[94]
Musical guests: Alexandra Burke ("The Silence"), Glee Cast ("Don't Stop Believin'") and The Black Eyed Peas ("The Time (Dirty Bit)")[66]

text:
Contestants' performances on the ninth live show

Act
Order
First song[94]
Order
Second song[94]
Result[66]

Rebecca Ferguson
1
"Show Me Love"
9
"Amazing Grace"
Safe

Mary Byrne
2
"Never Can Say Goodbye"
7
"The Way We Were"
Bottom two

Matt Cardle
3
"You Got the Love"
6
"She's Always a Woman"
Safe

Cher Lloyd
4
"Nothin' on You"
8
"Love the Way You Lie (Part II)"/"Love the Way You Lie"
Bottom two

One Direction
5
"Only Girl (In the World)"
10
"Chasing Cars"
Safe

Final showdown details[66]

Mary Byrne
1
"It's a Man's Man's Man's World"
Eliminated

Cher Lloyd
2
"Everytime"
Safe

text: For the first time in The X Factor history, the judges chose which act they wanted to see progress to the final.

text:
Walsh: Mary Byrne – backed his own act, Mary Byrne
Minogue: Cher Lloyd – stated Lloyd sang better than Byrne in the sing off
Cole: Cher Lloyd – backed her own act, Cher Lloyd
Cowell: Cher Lloyd – gave no reason

text: Week 10: Final (11/12 December)[edit]

text: 11 December

text:
Themes: No theme; celebrity duets[96]
Group performance: "Flashdance... What a Feeling" (all finalists)[57]
Musical guests: Rihanna ("What's My Name?") and Christina Aguilera ("Express")[57]

text:
Contestants' performances on the tenth live show

Act
Order
First song[96]
Order
Second song (duet)[96][97]
Result[57]

Matt Cardle
1
"Here with Me"
5
"Unfaithful" (with Rihanna)
Safe

Rebecca Ferguson
2
"Like a Star"
6
"Beautiful" (with Christina Aguilera)
Safe

One Direction
3
"Your Song"
7
"She's the One" (with Robbie Williams)
Safe

Cher Lloyd
4
"The Clapping Song"/"Get Ur Freak On"
8
"Where Is the Love?"/"I Gotta Feeling" (with will.i.am)
Eliminated

text: 12 December

text:
Themes: No theme; winner's single[59]
Group performances: "Never Forget" (performed with Take That) and "Bad Romance" (auditionees)[58]
Musical guest: Take That ("Never Forget" with finalists and "The Flood")[58]

text:
Contestants' performances on the final live show

Act
Order
First song[58]
Order
Second song[58]
Result[58]

Matt Cardle
1
"Firework"
4
"When We Collide"
Winner

One Direction
2
"Torn"
N/A (already eliminated)
Third place

Rebecca Ferguson
3
"Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"
5
"Distant Dreamer"
Runner-up

text: Charity single[edit]

text: The series 7 finalists recorded a cover of David Bowie's 1977 song "Heroes" as a charity single in aid of Help for Heroes, a charity which supports injured servicemen and women. The song was recorded in the week beginning 18 October 2010.[98] The video for the single was filmed on 2 November[99] at Three Mills Studios.[100] All sixteen finalists performed the song on 20 November's results show.[89] It was the third year in a row that finalists have released a charity record. The single entered both the Irish Singles Chart on 25 November 2010 and the UK Singles Chart on 28 November 2010 at number 1.[101][102]

text: Winner's single[edit]

text: It was reported on 2 December 2010 by the Daily Mirror that the final five contestants, Mary Byrne, Matt Cardle, Cher Lloyd, One Direction and Rebecca Ferguson, would each record a different song, rather than the same song as in previous series, for their potential debut single. The change was made after Cowell reportedly increased the budget as he wanted songs to suit each act.[103] It was reported on 10 December that Cardle's song would be "Many of Horror", Lloyd's would be "Impossible", Ferguson's would be "Distant Dreamer" and One Direction's song would be "Forever Young".[104] Cardle and Ferguson performed their songs in the final as the last two remaining acts and upon Cardle's winning the contest, his version of "Many of Horror", renamed to "When We Collide", was released.[105][106] It entered both the UK and Ireland Singles Charts at number 1.[107][108]

text: Voting, revenue and sponsorship[edit]

text: Over the course of the live shows, 15,488,019 votes were cast. Votes made via landline telephones or from the Red Button service cost 35 pence each, with calls made from mobile telephones expected to be more expensive. The votes brought in revenue of more than £5.4 million, though it was expected to be a lot higher because of the unknown cost of mobile phone votes. Proceeds were split between production company Syco, co-producer FremantleMedia, broadcaster ITV and phone vote operator Harvest Media.[109] Advertising slots during the final were sold for up to £250,000, which expected to bring in a further £25 million in advertising revenues, with the number of commercial breaks increased from five to six.[110]

text: For the second year in a row, The X Factor was sponsored by TalkTalk, as part of a three-year sponsorship deal thought to be worth £20 million, including sponsorship of the show, the 2011 live tour and rights to online clips.[111] TalkTalk enlisted series 6 contestants Jedward to launch its interactive initiative on 17 August 2010. Viewers were invited to record a video of themselves performing karaoke in front of a TalkTalk bright lights backdrop, and clips were screened as part of TalkTalk's sponsorship break bumpers.[112] In Ireland, where the series was broadcast on TV3, The X Factor was sponsored by Dominos Pizza.[113]

text: Reception[edit]

text: Ratings[edit]

text: The first episode on 21 August attracted 11.88 million viewers on ITV1,[114] the highest ever ratings for a series premiere of The X Factor.[115] It was watched by 46.5% of television viewers during its original broadcast.[115] The episode also received ratings of 568,000 on ITV1 HD.[116] The first live performance show on 9 October 2010 gained 12.62 million viewers,[114] attaining a 48.5% share of the audience during broadcast.[117] The final result on 12 December was the highest rated episode with 16.55 million viewers on ITV1,[114] a 51.5% audience share[118] and 1.16 million viewers on ITV1 HD.[116] It peaked at 19.4 million (18.14 million on ITV1 and 1.3 million on ITV1 HD)[118] and was the highest rated television episode of 2010 in the UK.[119] Official ratings concluded that the series averaged 14.13 million (including HD), making it the most watched series to date. The series dominated the weekly rankings, taking up the top position for the first four weeks, then the top two positions until the final. The first part of the final was beaten into fourth rank by two episodes of Coronation Street.[114]

text:
Episode
Date
Official ITV1 rating[114]
(millions)
Weekly rank[114]
Share (%)
Official ITV1 HD rating[116]
(millions)
Total viewers
(millions)

Auditions 1
000000002017-08-21-000021 August
11.88
1
48.6[115]
0.57
12.45

Auditions 2
000000002017-08-28-000028 August
10.81
1
44.9[120]
0.55
11.36

Auditions 3
000000002017-09-04-00004 September
11.69
1
49.2[121]
0.64
12.33

Auditions 4
000000002017-09-11-000011 September
11.78
1
45.0[122]
0.56
12.34

Auditions 5
000000002017-09-18-000018 September
11.65
2
46.0[123]
0.68
12.33

Auditions 6
000000002017-09-19-000019 September
12.15
1
42.8[124]
0.71
12.86

Bootcamp 1
000000002017-09-25-000025 September
12.07
2
46.4[125]
0.71
12.78

Bootcamp 2
000000002017-09-26-000026 September
13.26
1
44.4[126]
0.82
14.08

Judges' houses 1
000000002017-10-02-00002 October
12.68
2
47.3[127]
0.82
13.50

Judges' houses 2
000000002017-10-03-00003 October
14.51
1
48.5[128]
0.90
15.41

Live show 1
000000002017-10-09-00009 October
12.62
2
48.5[117]
0.91
13.53

Results 1
000000002017-10-10-000010 October
13.17
1
46.3[129]
0.90
14.07

Live show 2
000000002017-10-16-000016 October
12.14
2
47.2[130]
0.97
13.11

Results 2
000000002017-10-17-000017 October
13.42
1
46.7[131]
0.90
14.32

Live show 3
000000002017-10-23-000023 October
12.39
2
47.5[132]
0.95
13.34

Results 3
000000002017-10-24-000024 October
13.73
1
47.7[133]
0.95
14.68

Live show 4
000000002017-10-30-000030 October
12.69
2
47.1[134]
0.81
13.50

Results 4
000000002017-10-31-000031 October
13.74
1
47.5[135]
0.93
14.67

Live show 5
000000002017-11-06-00006 November
12.50
2
47.7[136]
1.11
13.61

Results 5
000000002017-11-07-00007 November
14.29
1
49.7[137]
1.07
15.36

Live show 6
000000002017-11-13-000013 November
13.61
2
49.9[138]
0.99
14.60

Results 6
000000002017-11-14-000014 November
14.69
1
47.7[139]
1.06
15.75

Live show 7
000000002017-11-20-000020 November
13.28
2
48.7[140]
1.13
14.41

Results 7
000000002017-11-21-000021 November
15.04
1
50.0[141]
1.09
16.13

Live show 8
000000002017-11-27-000027 November
13.57
2
49.0[142]
1.09
14.66

Results 8
000000002017-11-28-000028 November
14.42
1
48.7[143]
1.05
15.47

Live show 9
000000002017-12-04-00004 December
13.73
2
48.4[144]
1.22
14.95

Results 9
000000002017-12-05-00005 December
14.53
1
48.6[145]
0.99
15.52

Final part 1
000000002017-12-11-000011 December
13.94
4
52.6[146]
1.17
15.11

Final part 2
000000002017-12-12-000012 December
16.55
1
54.9[118]
1.16
17.71

Series average
2010
13.22
N/A
47.9
0.85
14.13

text: Controversies[edit]

text: The seventh series of The X Factor sparked several heated controversies, with over 5,000 complaints registered with Ofcom throughout the series. A spokesperson told the Daily Mirror newspaper that ITV bosses were worried about the number of complaints as claims that the show had become "seedy and oversexed" and accusations of fixing would tarnish the image of the show and ITV.[147]

text: Contestants[edit]

text: On 25 August, it was announced that contestant Shirlena Johnson had been asked to leave the show because of concerns over her mental health, that she had apparently kept hidden from the producers. Johnson's successful audition was broadcast on 21 August. Johnson's mother claimed that producers knew of Johnson's medical history as they requested her general practitioner's details at bootcamp, but producers said the medical report arrived late. A spokesperson said, "The welfare of contestants is of paramount importance, and for this reason it has been agreed that Shirlena Johnson should not continue in the competition."[148][149]

text: The decision to form two groups, Belle Amie and One Direction, from soloists at the end of the bootcamp stage was branded unfair by some of the other groups, as neither had entered the competition as groups. The controversy deepened after Cowell put through both Belle Amie and One Direction and picked just one of the original applicants.[150] Cowell defended the decision, saying that the existing groups were not good enough and other groups such as The Wanted and the Spice Girls were created similarly.[151]

text: More controversy erupted after the News of the World reported that after failing to qualify in 2009, Treyc Cohen signed a management deal with Artimis Music Management Ltd that landed her a recording contract in October that year with Birmingham-based Ajoupa Records and she released a single entitled "A Time to Be Heard".[152] The rules of The X Factor strictly forbid record deals while a contestant is on the show. According to the newspaper, The X Factor was attempting to release Cohen from her management deal and remove the single from sale.[152] Katie Waissel also had to be released from a contract in the United States after her audition.[153]

text: Judges' actions[edit]

text: Controversy was caused when Cole chose not to send popular contestant Gamu Nhengu through to the live shows. Nhengu was an early favourite to win and many viewers were angry that Waissel and Cher Lloyd were put through despite failing to complete their performances at judges' houses.[154] Around 1,000 people complained to ITV and by 7 October 220,000 had joined a Facebook page called "Gamu Should Have Got Through".[155] Cole reportedly became the target of death threats,[156] and took extra security precautions in her home as well as at The X Factor.[157] Bookmaker Paddy Power were forced to give odds on Nhengu winning the show after a large number of bets were placed,[158] and made her the favourite to win, but all punters had their losing bets refunded when Nhengu was not chosen as Cole's wildcard.[159] There was speculation that Cole was pressured by producers to axe Nhengu over issues with her visa, but Cheryl denied those claims,[160] saying it was entirely down to her "gut instinct" and that she believed Lloyd, Waissel and Rebecca Ferguson were the best singers in her category.[35] Later in her 2012 autobiography Cheryl: My Story, Cheryl confessed that she had chosen Waissel for the live shows because she was more entertaining, claiming ..."[Cowell] had spent the past two years drumming into me that we needed acts who would be 'good TV.'...she had the character and drive it took to withstand the pressure of the show, and so I put her through, even though she messed up when she sang in front of Will.i.am."[161]

text: More than 1,000 viewers complained to ITV and more than 2,000 to Ofcom when, in week 5 of the live shows, Cole refused to vote off either act in the bottom two (Cohen and Waissel) and was not allowed to vote last and force a deadlock. A spokesperson for The X Factor explained: "A judge can abstain from placing a vote. [Cole] made it clear that she would not send anyone home and therefore abstained from voting. [O'Leary] went back to her to clarify that it was going to go to a majority vote if she did that. [Cole] was unable to take the vote to deadlock as deadlock requires a valid active vote."[162] However, a Daily Mail poll of 6,890 people showed that 4,795 of them wanted Cole to be sacked for refusing to vote. O'Leary revealed that during the previous commercial break, when the bottom two was known to the producers, they realized that Cole might abstain and decided in that if she did, they would go to a majority vote.[162] After the series ended, voting statistics showed that Waissel received fewer votes than Cohen, meaning that if the result went to deadlock, Waissel would have been eliminated.[163]

text: Accusations of fixing[edit]

text: After O'Leary's revelation that producers had rehearsed what would happen if Cole abstained in week 5, allegations were made that the result was rigged for Waissel to stay, given that her outlandish performances and growing unpopularity with the public resulted in better ratings and sensational press for the show. Cowell denied this claim, saying he would never want to defraud viewers and said the situation had "been blown out of proportion".[164] O'Leary defended himself and the show on Twitter, saying "We never know which way the judges are going to vote. Ever. The only thing I know is who's in the bottom two when I'm given the card. I don't know which judge to go to until I'm called and the judges, including [Cowell], don't know the vote or who we're coming to next. It's that simple."[164] The following week, Heat magazine printed a report claiming that Cowell was aware of the public votes before the judges make their votes, and several other media reports contained rumours of the show being fixed. The X Factor's bosses instructed their lawyers to file a formal complaint to the Press Complaints Commission against Heat, saying that the article was a lie, that very few people know the actual public voting results and conspiracy theories being printed in the media are "total and utter rubbish".[165] Heat printed an apology in their 1 January 2011 issue and accepted that Cowell was unaware of the votes cast until after the final.[166]

text: There were accusations from viewers of fixing during the semi-final when O'Leary announced that only the public's votes would decide which contestants would make it through to the final, but the next day this was changed and there was a final showdown. The show's official website also stated that it would be decided by public vote, and Walsh confirmed it on a radio show earlier in the week.[167] It was the first time in the show's history that the judges were given a vote in a semi-final. A spokesperson insisted the change was decided weeks in advance.[168] Cowell (incorrectly) stated that "There has always been a sing-off when there are five people left in the competition. This is a lot of nonsense about nothing."[169] However, eliminated contestant Mary Byrne said she believed the decision would be solely down to the public until the day of the semi-final performances and even claimed that Cowell did not want her in the final.[169] Following Byrne's comments, Cowell wrote an open letter to the viewers in the Daily Mirror, saying:

text: "It's always our sole intention to try and make the show as entertaining and hopefully exciting every week. Our main focus is to ensure that the contestants are given every opportunity to benefit from being on the show and show their talent. Throughout the series I have met with fans of the show on a regular basis and have listened and acted on their feedback. I believe they have enjoyed the changes in the show this year and I feel it's been a better series as it hasn't followed the same pattern as before. This year we decided to give four contestants a second chance and introduce them as wild card entrants on the first live show. And having 16 finalists rather than just 12 meant that we introduced both single and double eliminations. We decided for the first time some weeks ago to put four people into the final and this meant having five semi-finalists. We also felt it would be fairer that there would be a sing-off rather than automatic elimination as there were more contestants. I understand new decisions are seen as controversial by our viewers but it stops the show becoming boring. As the excitement heats up, debates begin but I do want to assure people that the show is definitely not fixed. The sing-off on Sunday was something that was always going to happen regardless of who was in the bottom two. The contestants all prepared their save-me songs on Monday last week. It was always going to be sad for whoever left. [...] I have always listened to and respected our viewers and have always believed viewers ultimately make the right decision. I hope the viewers trust the show that this is a fair competition."[170]

text: Voting statistics revealed that Lloyd would have been eliminated had there been no judges' vote or if the vote had gone to deadlock.[163]

text: There were also accusations on the fact that there were no double eliminations in Week 3. Voting statistics revealed that Treyc Cohen would’ve been eliminated and Belle Amie would have to compete in the sing-off.

text: Pitch-correction use[edit]

text: Following the first episode, viewers complained on social networking websites after it appeared that pitch correction (which has been seen as controversial in the music industry) was used to improve the quality of some singers' voices,[171] and forty-five viewers complained to Ofcom.[172] Series producers claimed post-production work was necessary on the show because of the number of microphones used during filming: "The judges make their decisions at the auditions stage based on what they hear on the day, live in the arena. The footage and sound is then edited and dubbed into a finished programme, to deliver the most entertaining experience possible for viewers. When it gets to the live shows, it will be all live."[173] It was reported on 26 August that Cowell had ordered a ban on pitch correction in future episodes, asking for them to be re-edited.[174] In October 2010, Ofcom ruled that viewers had not been "materially misled" as pitch correction was only used during auditions and not when viewers were paying to vote for the contestants.[172]

text: 'Raunchy' final[edit]

text: In December 2010, it emerged that Ofcom were investigating the show after claims that viewers were being encouraged to purchase songs recorded by guest performers Michael Bublé and Diana Vickers.[175] Ofcom also received over 2,868 complaints[176] from viewers about "raunchy" dance routines from Rihanna and Christina Aguilera during the final. Although an ITV spokesperson denied the routines were inappropriate,[177] Cowell was warned by ITV to "cut the sleaze".[147] In April 2011, Ofcom ruled that there had been no breach of guidelines over the performances, and highlighted that "approximately 2,000" of the complaints were received after the routines were covered by the Daily Mail, and said the newspaper's report featured a number of stills that were "significantly more graphic and close-up" than material broadcast, and that were "taken from a different angle to the television cameras".[176]

text: Praise and awards[edit]

text: In its 7 December 2010 issue, Heat magazine said series 7 of The X Factor had been the best series to date, citing many of the controversies, plus events such as Lloyd singing on a spiral staircase, Wagner's "ludicrous" performances and Walsh likening Richardson to "a little Lenny Henry", as moments that helped make it "the most deliriously, thrilling, controversial and demented yet. [...] This was the year the biggest and best show on TV somehow got bigger and better."[178] Before the final, Digital Spy's reality television editor Alex Fletcher listed his five favourite moments from the series. His favourite moment was Nhengu's elimination, on which he said "No other show can make people so passionate, angry and feel like they really know the programme's stars. With only approximately 30 minutes of screentime, Gamu had managed to capture the hearts of millions. Whatever you think of Simon Cowell's programmes, you have to give them credit for achieving that."[179]

text: The series won in the Most Popular Talent Show category at the 16th National Television Awards in 2011, beating series 4 of Britain's Got Talent, series 6 of Dancing on Ice and series 8 of Strictly Come Dancing.[180] It was also nominated in the TV Reality Programme category at the 2011 TRIC awards,[181] the Entertainment Programme category at the 2011 British Academy Television Awards,[182] and the Best Talent Show category at the 2011 TV Choice Awards.[183]


document_title: Tell Me You Love Me (song)

question_text: demi lovato tell me you love me key

question_tokens: demi lovato tell me you love me key

text: Tell Me You Love Me (song)

text: Production[edit]

text: "Tell Me You Love Me" was written by Kirby Lauryen, Stint and John Hill for Lovato's sixth studio album of the same name. It was produced by Stint and Hill. Both producers performed the instruments for the track, including bass, drums, guitar, horn, and piano. Mitch Allan also served as the song's vocal producer, with Scott Robinson contributing as the additional vocal producer. The track features backing vocals by Lauryen. The track was recorded and edited with guidance by Rob Cohen at Rodeo Recordings, located in Santa Monica, California and Venice Way Studios in North Vancouver, Canada. Lovato recorded the vocals for the song with guidance by Zeke Mishanec at Jungle City Studios in New York City. The track was engineered for mix by John Hanes, and eventually mixed by Serban Ghenea. The track was finally mastered by Chris Gehringer and Will Quinnell.[4]

text: During the album pop-up exhibition in New York City, Lovato revealed that the track was "really stuck" with her when she heard it for the first time. She explained, "At the time I was going through a breakup. It's about the vulnerability of coming out of a very serious relationship and having a tough time with it. It also at the same time calls out a big misconception with the line, 'You ain't nobody 'til you got somebody,' which again comes from that vulnerability with mixed emotions."[5] Lovato told the BBC the track was her favorite of the album, she later explained, "It said exactly what I was wanting to tell that person. I wanted to hear them tell me that they loved me."[6]

text: Release[edit]

text: Lovato published a black-and-white teaser on August 23, 2017, on social media, announcing the new album, with "Tell Me You Love Me" playing in the background.[7][8] The clip shows Lovato singing the song in a studio, as it fades into the album artwork.[9][10][11] It was released to radio as the album's second and final single from the album on November 14, 2017.[1][12] An official remix of the song by NOTD was released on December 15, 2017.[13] The second official remix of the song by American electronic musician Dave Audé was released on January 5, 2018.[14] On March 8, 2018, Lovato released a remix extended play, featuring the original version of the track, the two previous remixes, Spanglish and Spanish versions and a live acoustic performance.[15] On March 23, 2018, the EP was re-released, and one remix of the song by Matrix & Futurebound was released.[16]

text: Composition[edit]

text: "Tell Me You Love Me" is written in the key of E♭ minor with a tempo of 72 beats per minute in common time. The song follows a chord progression of E♭m–D♭–C♭, and Lovato's vocals span from A♭3 to G♯5.[17][18]

text: Critical reception[edit]

text: Elias Leight of Rolling Stone called the song "a swelling ballad full of horns and handclaps".[19] Mike Wass of Idolator described the song as "a fiery mid-tempo anthem".[20] Jeff Benjamin of Fuse called the song a "booming ballad".[21] Deepa Lakshmin of MTV News described Lovato's vocals as "sweeping".[22] Raisa Bruner of Time described the song as a "lush and dramatic love song" that had "powerful hand-clap chorus and big horns".[23] While reviewing the album, Jamieson Cox of Pitchfork described the song as "a desperate plea for affection that gradually morphs into a declaration of self-love".[24]

text: Music video[edit]

text: Background and synopsis[edit]

text: The music video for "Tell Me You Love Me" was directed by Mark Pellington, who also directed Lovato's previous work "Skyscraper". The video co-starred Grey's Anatomy actor Jesse Williams. About filming the music video, Lovato commented, "[Shooting the music video] was really fun too! We had a full on wedding and my best friends were even my bridesmaids and groomsmen."[25]

text: The music video is six minutes and forty-seven seconds long. The first two minutes of the video are dedicated to the couple's engagement as well as the jealousies that strain their relationship before they make it to the altar. The track eventually begins during the wedding sequence where, after a few suspenseful moments, Williams' groom tells Lovato's bride he is not ready and leaves her at the altar to the shock of their family and friends.[25]

text: Release and reception[edit]

text: On November 22, 2017, Lovato posted a photo of her in a wedding dress on her social media with no description.[26] Rumors of the possibility of the photo being a sneak peek from the music video were made on social media. On November 27, 2017, Lovato announced that the official music video for the song would be released on December 1, 2017, by posting a wedding invitation from Lovato and Williams.[27] According to Island Records' president David Massey, the music video reached 10 million views on its first day.[28]

text: Megan Armstrong of Billboard praised Lovato's and Williams' acting performances and called them "make it hard to believe they aren't actually a couple in real life."[29] Markos Papadatos of Digital Journal called the music video was "superb from start to finish" and called it as one of Lovato's "most compelling videos".[30] Sara M Moniuszko of USA Today praised the music video as "perfectly matches the emotional and longing lyrics of the track."[31] Kaitlyn Tiffany of The Verge described the video as "a Lifetime movie you can watch at your desk".[32] Idolator listed the video 11th among the best music videos of the year.[33]

text: Live performances[edit]

text: On October 5, 2017, the singer performed the song for the first time in television on The Today Show, where she also performed "Sorry Not Sorry".[34] On November 10, 2017, Lovato performed the song at BBC's Sounds Like Friday Night.[35] On November 12, 2017, Lovato performed a medley of "Sorry Not Sorry" and "Tell Me You Love Me" at the 2017 MTV Europe Music Awards.[36] The song was on Lovato's set list for the 2017 Jingle Ball Tour.[37] On December 19, 2017, Lovato performed the song on the live finale of The Voice.[38] Lovato performed the track on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on January 15, 2018.[39] The song serves as the encore to the Tell Me You Love Me World Tour, where Lovato sings accompanied by guest choir while confetti raining down.[40]

text: Track listings[edit]

text: Digital download[41]

text: "Tell Me You Love Me" – 3:56

tag: ol

text: Digital download – NOTD Remix[13]

text: "Tell Me You Love Me" (NOTD Remix) – 3:00

text: Digital download – Dave Audé Remix[14]

text: "Tell Me You Love Me" (Dave Audé Remix) – 3:45

text: Digital download – Remixes[15][16]

text:
"Tell Me You Love Me" – 3:56
"Tell Me You Love Me" (Dave Audé Remix) – 3:46
"Tell Me You Love Me" (NOTD Remix) – 3:01
"Tell Me You Love Me" (Spanglish Version) – 3:57
"Tell Me You Love Me" (Spanish Version) – 3:58
"Tell Me You Love Me" (Live Acoustic) – 2:37
"Tell Me You Love Me" (Matrix & Futurebound Remix) – 3:28

text: Credits and personnel[edit]

text: Recording and management

text:
Recorded at Rodeo Recordings (Santa Monica, California) and Venice Way Studios (North Vancouver, BC, Canada)
Vocals recorded at Jungle City Studios (New York City)
Mixed at MixStar Studios (Virginia Beach, Virginia)
Mastered at Sterling Sound Studios (New York City)
Published by Rodeoman Music (GMR), EMI April Music, WB Music Corp. (ASCAP), Roc Nation Music (ASCAP), A Song A Day (ASCAP), Stint Music Publishing (SOCAN)

text: Personnel

text:
Demi Lovato – lead vocals
John Hill – production, bass, drums, guitar, horn, piano, programming
Stint – production, bass, drums, guitar, horn, piano, programming
Mitch Allan – vocal production
Scott Robinson – additional vocal production
Rob Cohen – recording, editing
Zeke Mishanec – vocals recording
Serban Ghenea – mixing
John Hanes – mixing engineering
Dave Palmer – keyboards
Kirby Lauryen – background vocals
Chris Gehringer – mastering
Will Quinnell – mastering

text: Credits adapted from the liner notes of Tell Me You Love Me.[4]

text: Charts[edit]

text:
Chart (2017–18)
Peak
position

Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[42]
15

Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[43]
32

Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[44]
45

Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[45]
50

France (SNEP)[46]
185

Germany (Official German Charts)[47]
91

Greece (IFPI Charts)[48]
41

Ireland (IRMA)[49]
92

Israel (Media Forest TV Airplay)[50]
3

New Zealand Heatseekers (RMNZ)[51]
6

Philippines (Philippine Hot 100)[52]
74

Portugal (AFP)[53]
46

Scotland (Official Charts Company)[54]
58

Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[55]
85

Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[56]
52

Spain (PROMUSICAE)[57]
46

Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[58]
6

UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[59]
85

US Billboard Hot 100[60]
53

US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[61]
36

US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[62]
2

US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[63]
39

US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[64]
19

text: Certifications[edit]

text:
Region
Certification
Certified units/Sales

Canada (Music Canada)[65]
Gold
40,000^

United States (RIAA)[66]
Platinum
1,000,000

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

text: Release history[edit]

text:
Region
Date
Format(s)
Label(s)
Ref.

Various
August 24, 2017
Digital download

Island
Hollywood
Safehouse

[67]

United States
November 14, 2017
Contemporary hit radio

Island
Hollywood

[1]

Various
December 15, 2017
Digital download – NOTD Remix

Island
Hollywood
Safehouse

[13]

Italy
December 29, 2017
Contemporary hit radio
Universal
[68]

Various
January 5, 2018
Digital download – Dave Audé Remix

Island
Hollywood
Safehouse

[14]

United States
January 22, 2018
Hot adult contemporary

Island
Hollywood

[69]

Various
March 8, 2018
Digital download – Remixes EP

Island
Hollywood
Safehouse

[15]

March 23, 2018
Digital download – Remixes EP (re-release)

Island
Hollywood
Safehouse

[16]


document_title: Capital punishment in Texas

question_text: where do they still do the electric chair

text: Capital punishment in Texas

text: History[edit]

text: The first recorded execution in Texas occurred in 1819 with the execution of a white male, George Brown, for piracy.[2] In 1840, a free black male, Henry Forbes, was executed for jail-breaking.[3] Prior to Texas statehood in 1846, eight executions—all by hanging—were carried out.[2]

text: Upon statehood, hanging would be the method used for almost all executions until 1924. Hangings were administered by the county where the trial took place. The last hanging in the state was that of Nathan Lee, a man convicted of murder and executed in Angleton, Brazoria County, Texas on August 31, 1923.[4] The only other method used at the time was execution by firing squad, which was used for three Confederate deserters during the American Civil War as well as a man convicted of attempted rape in 1863.[5]

text: Texas changed its execution laws in 1923, requiring the executions be carried out on the electric chair and that they take place at the Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville (also known as Huntsville Unit). From 1928 until 1965, this was also home to the state's male death row. The first executions on the electric chair were on February 8, 1924, when Charles Reynolds, Ewell Morris, George Washington, Mack Matthews, and Melvin Johnson had their death sentences carried out. The five executions were the most carried out on a single day in the state. The state would conduct multiple executions on a single day on several other occasions, the last being on August 9, 2000. Since then, the state has not executed more than one person on a single day, though there is no law prohibiting it. A total of 361 people were electrocuted in Texas, with the last being Joseph Johnson on July 30, 1964.

text: The United States Supreme Court decision in Furman v. Georgia (408 U.S. 238 (1972)), which declared Georgia's "unitary trial" procedure (in which the jury was asked to return a verdict of guilt or innocence and, simultaneously, determine whether the defendant would be punished by death or life imprisonment) to be unconstitutional on the grounds that it was a cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution, essentially negated all death penalty sentences nationwide.

text: As result of the Furman decision, the 52 Texas death-row inmates at the time had all their sentences reduced to life imprisonment.[6] Among them was Kenneth McDuff, who was originally condemned for the murder of three teenagers in 1966. He was paroled in 1989 and executed in 1998 for a murder he committed while on parole, and is suspected to have been responsible for many other killings.[7]

text: Furman led to a 1973 revision of the laws, primarily by introducing the bifurcated trial process (where the guilt-innocence and punishment phases are separate) and narrowly limiting the legal definition of capital murder (and, thus, those offenses for which the death penalty could be imposed). The first person sentenced to death under a new Texas statute was John Devries on February 15, 1974; Devries hanged himself in his cell on July 1, 1974 (using bedsheets from his bunk) before he could be executed.[6][8]

text: The Supreme Court decision in Gregg v. Georgia in 1976 once again allowed for the death penalty to be imposed. (A Texas case was a companion case in the Gregg decision and was upheld by the Court; the Court stated that Texas' death penalty scheme could potentially result in fewer death penalty cases, an irony given that post-Gregg Texas has by far executed more inmates than any other state.) However, the first execution in Texas after this decision would not take place until December 7, 1982 with that of Charles Brooks, Jr.. Brooks was also the first person to be judicially executed by lethal injection in the world, and the first African American to be executed in the United States since 1967.

text: In the post-Gregg era, Texas has executed 537 people.[9] There are a variety of proposed legal and cultural explanations as to why Texas has more executions than any other state. One possible reason is due to the federal appellate structure – federal appeals from Texas are made to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Michael Sharlot, dean of the University of Texas at Austin Law School, found the Fifth Circuit to be a "much more conservative circuit" than the Ninth Circuit to which federal appeals from California are made. According to him, the Fifth is "more deferential to the popular will" that is strongly pro-death penalty and creates few legal obstacles to execution within its jurisdiction.[10][11] As of 2004, however, Texas may have a lower rate of death sentencing than other states, according to a study by Cornell University.[12]

text: Texas has executed nine women in its history, the most recent being Lisa Ann Coleman on September 17, 2014.

text: Capital crimes[edit]

text: Under Texas statutes, a murder is capital if the offender:[13]

text:
Murders a public safety officer (police officer, fireman, or EMT/paramedic) who is acting in the lawful discharge of an official duty and who the person knows is a police officer, fireman, or EMT/paramedic
Intentionally commits the murder in the course of committing or attempting to commit aggravated kidnapping, burglary, robbery, aggravated sexual assault, arson, obstruction or retaliation, or terroristic threat
Commits the murder for remuneration or the promise of remuneration or employs another to commit the murder for remuneration or the promise of remuneration
Commits the murder while escaping or attempting to escape from a penal institution
Commits the murder, while incarcerated, of a person who is employed in the operation of the penal institution or with the intent to establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the profits of a combination
Commits the murder while incarcerated for murder; or while serving a sentence of life imprisonment or a term of 99 years for aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault or aggravated robbery
Murders more than one person during the same criminal transaction or during different criminal transactions but the murders are committed pursuant to the same scheme or course of conduct
Murders an individual under 10 years of age
Murders another person in retaliation for or on account of the service or status of the other person as a judge or justice of the supreme court, the court of criminal appeals, a court of appeals, a district court, a criminal district court, a constitutional county court, a statutory county court, a justice court, or a municipal court.

text: Texas statute books still provide the death penalty for aggravated sexual assault committed by an offender previously convicted of the same against a child under 14. The victim's age under which child murder is punishable by death was raised from six to 10 in 2011 by the Texas legislature.[14]

text: Legal procedure[edit]

text: The prosecution may choose not to seek the death penalty. This can be for various reasons, such as the prosecution believing that they could not show the defendant worthy of death, or the family of the victim has asked that the death penalty not be imposed.

text: Trial phase[edit]

text: When the prosecution seeks the death penalty, the sentence is decided by the jury. A death sentence must be unanimous, while a life sentence requires only 10 votes.

text: In case of a hung jury during the penalty phase of the trial, a life sentence is issued, even if a single juror opposed death (there is no retrial).

text: Jurors in the sentencing phase are first asked to determine whether the defendant represents a future danger to society; only after ruling that "there is a probability that the defendant would commit criminal acts of violence that would constitute a continuing threat to society" will the jury choose the sentence itself, by deciding whether there is "sufficient mitigating circumstance or circumstances to warrant that a sentence of life imprisonment without parole rather than a death sentence be imposed" or not.

text: Appeals[edit]

text: The imposition of a death sentence in Texas results in an automatic direct appeal to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the state's highest criminal tribunal (the intermediate Texas Court of Appeals is bypassed). A person convicted of capital murder may also attack their convictions or sentences via writs of habeas corpus at both the state and federal levels.[15]

text: Texas's appeal process has been criticized as too lengthy compared to other states such as Virginia by death penalty supporters. In 2016, the legal director for the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation Kent Scheidegger said: "In Texas, part of the problem is some cases go back for a second review to the trial court and some trial courts just sit on them for years. That simply shouldn't be allowed."[16]

text: Clemency[edit]

text: In addition to seeking judicial review of the sentence, a defendant may also appeal to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, a separate agency from TDCJ, for commutation of the sentence to life in prison.

text: The Board, after hearing testimony, decides whether or not to recommend commutation to the Governor of Texas. If the Board recommends commutation, the Governor can accept or reject the recommendation. However, if the board does not recommend commutation, the Governor has no power to override the Board's non-recommendation (the law was changed in 1936 due to concerns that pardons were being sold for cash under the administrations of former Governor James E. Ferguson and later his wife and Texas's first female Governor Miriam A. Ferguson).[17]

text: The only unilateral action which the Governor can take is to grant a one-time, 30-day reprieve to the defendant, and can do so regardless of what the Board recommends in a particular case.[18][19]

text: Since Texas reinstated the death penalty in 1976, only two defendants sentenced to death have been granted clemency by the Governor after a recommendation from the Board:

text:
Henry Lee Lucas in 1998 by George W. Bush.
Kenneth Foster in 2007 by Rick Perry.[20]

text: Death row[edit]

text: Male death row inmates are housed at the Polunsky Unit in West Livingston;[6][21] female death row inmates are housed at the Mountain View Unit in Gatesville. All death row inmates at both units are physically segregated from the general population, are housed in individual cells approximately 60 square feet (5.6 m2) in size, and engage in recreational activities individually apart from the general population and other death row inmates. They receive special death row ID numbers instead of regular Texas Department of Criminal Justice numbers.[6]

text: Death row prisoners, along with prisoners in administrative segregation, are seated individually on prison transport vehicles. The TDCJ makes death row prisoners wear various restraints, including belly chains and leg irons, while being transported.[22] Death row offenders and offenders with life imprisonment without parole enter the TDCJ system through two points; men enter through the Byrd Unit in Huntsville, and women enter through the Reception Center in Christina Crain Unit, Gatesville. From there, death row inmates go to their designated death row facilities.[23]

text: Previously death row inmates were permitted to work. After an escape attempt occurred in 1998, the prison work program was suspended.[24]

text: The state of Texas began housing death row inmates in the Huntsville Unit in 1928. In 1965 the male death row inmates moved to the Ellis Unit. In 1999 the male death row moved to Polunsky.[25] In the 1923-1973 period Texas state authorities had three female death row inmates;[26] the first, Emma "Straight Eight" Oliver, was held at Huntsville Unit after her 1949 sentencing, but had her sentence commuted to life imprisonment in 1951.[27] Mary Anderson, sentenced to death in 1978,[28] was held at Goree Unit.[27] Her death sentence was reversed in 1982,[28] and the sentence was changed to murder.[29]

text: Execution procedure[edit]

text: The TDCJ website maintains a list of inmates with scheduled execution dates, which is generally updated within 1–2 days after an execution date is set, an execution takes place, or a stay of execution is granted and the date withdrawn.

text: Date of execution[edit]

text: The judge presiding over a capital case sets the execution date once it appears that all the offender's appeals have been exhausted.[30] The initial date of execution cannot be prior to the 91st day after the day the order is entered and (if the original order is withdrawn) subsequent execution dates cannot be less than the 31st day after the order is entered, provided that no habeas corpus motion has been filed under Article 11.071; otherwise, the date cannot be set prior to the court either denying relief, or issuing its mandate.[31] In the event an offender manages to escape confinement, and not be re-arrested until after the set execution date, the revised date of execution shall be not less than 30 days from the date the order is issued.[32]

text: Execution day[edit]

text: The law does not prohibit multiple executions in a single day; however, Texas has not executed multiple offenders on a single day since August 9, 2000, on which two offenders were executed.[33]

text: The law only specifies that "[t]he execution shall take place at a location designated by the Texas Department of Corrections in a room arranged for that purpose."[34] However, since 1923, all executions have been carried out at the Huntsville Unit, the former location of death row.

text: On the afternoon of a prisoner's scheduled execution,[35] he or she is transported directly from his or her death row unit to the Huntsville Unit.[36] Men leave the Polunsky Unit in a three-vehicle convoy bound for the Huntsville Unit;[35] women leave from the Mountain View Unit. The only individuals who are informed of the transportation arrangements are the wardens of the affected units. The TDCJ does not make an announcement regarding what routes are used.[36]

text: Upon arrival at the Huntsville Unit, the condemned is led through a back gate, submits to a cavity search, then is placed in a holding cell.

text: Before 2011, the condemned was given an opportunity to have a last meal based on what the unit's cafeteria could prepare from its stock. Robert Perkinson, author of Texas Tough: The Rise of America's Prison Empire, said in 2010 that most condemned prisoners ordered "standard American fare in heaping portions, the sorts of meals that recall a childhood Sunday."[35] Many female prisoners under the death sentence did not take a last meal.[37] However, Lawrence Russel Brewer, a white supremacist gang member convicted for the high-profile hate crime dragging death of James Byrd Jr., ordered a large last meal and did not eat it before his execution. In response, John Whitmire, a member of the Texas legislature, asked the TDCJ to stop special meals. Whitmire stated to the press that Brewer's victim, Mr. Byrd, "didn't get to choose his last meal." The TDCJ complied. Brian Price, a former prison chef, offered to personally cook and pay for any subsequent special last meal since the TDCJ is not paying for them anymore.[38] However, Whitmire warned in a letter that he would seek formal state legislation when lawmakers next convened if the "last meal" tradition wasn't stopped immediately.[39] Afterwards, the TDCJ stopped serving special last meals, and will only allow execution chamber prisoners to have the same kind of meal served to regular prisoners.[40] Many prisoners requested cigarettes (which were denied as TDCJ has banned smoking in its facilities).

text: Under Texas law, executions are carried out at or after 6 p.m. Huntsville (Central) time "by intravenous injection of a substance or substances in a lethal quantity sufficient to cause death and until such convict is dead".[41] The law does not specify the substance(s) to be used; previously, according to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice the chemicals used for the lethal injection were the commonly-used three-drug combination of (in order) sodium thiopental (a dose which sedates the offender, but not enough to kill outright), pancuronium bromide (a muscle relaxant which collapses the diaphragm and lungs), and potassium chloride (which stops the heartbeat). The offender is usually pronounced dead approximately seven minutes after start of the injection process; the cost for the three substances is $86.08 per offender.[6] As a result of drug shortages, sodium thiopental was replaced by pentobarbital in 2011.[42] Further shortages of this drug have pushed the cost of the drugs to approximately $1300 per offender.[43] Still further shortages of pancuronium bromide (and the expiration of the existing stock) forced the state into switching to a single-drug protocol, using solely pentobarbital.[44]

text: The only persons legally allowed to be present (none of whom can be convicts) at the execution are:[45]

text:
the executioner "and such persons as may be necessary to assist him in conducting the execution"
the Board of Directors of the Department of Corrections
two physicians including the prison physician
the spiritual advisor of the condemned
the chaplains of the Department of Corrections
the county judge and sheriff of the county in which the crime was committed
no more than five relatives or friends of the condemned person

text: In response to victims rights groups, TDCJ adopted a board rule in January 1996 allowing five victim witnesses (six for multiple victims). Initially the witnesses were limited to immediate family and individuals with a close relationship to the victim, but the board rule was modified in 1998 to allow close friends of surviving witnesses, and further modified in May 2008 to allow the victim witnesses to be accompanied by a spiritual advisor who is a bona fide pastor or comparable official of the victim's religion.[46]

text: Media coverage[edit]

text: Five members of the media are also allowed to witness the execution, divided equally as possible between the rooms containing the offender's and victim's witnesses.[46]

text: Under current TDCJ guidelines, representatives of the Associated Press and The Huntsville Item (the local newspaper for Huntsville, Texas) are guaranteed two of the five slots to witness an execution.[47] The Associated Press regularly sends a representative to cover executions; Michael Graczyk (from the AP's Houston office) is usually the representative sent, having attended over 300 executions in his career. The Item also generally covers all executions, regardless of county of conviction (Cody Stark is generally the representative).

text: Other media members must submit their requests at least three days prior to the execution date; priority will be given to media members representing the area in which the capital crime took place. Generally, other newspapers will only cover executions where the crime was committed within their general circulation area (the Houston Chronicle is often one of them, with Harris County being the state's largest and having the most number of inmates on death row), and frequently even then will rely on the AP report.[48] College and university media are not permitted to be witnesses.[47]

text: Post-execution[edit]

text: Upon the offender's death the body shall be immediately embalmed, and shall be disposed of as follows:[49]

text:
A relative or bona fide friend of the offender may demand or request the body within 48 hours after death, upon payment of a fee not to exceed US$25 for the mortician's services in embalming the deceased; once TDCJ receives the receipt the body shall be released to the requestor or his/her authorized agent.
If no relative or bona fide friend requests the body, the Anatomical Board of the State of Texas may request the body, but must also pay the US$25 fee for embalming services and TDCJ must receive the receipt prior to delivery.
If no relative, bona fide friend, or the Anatomical Board requests the body, TDCJ shall cause the body to be "decently buried" with the embalming fee to be paid by the county in which the indictment resulting in the conviction occurred.

text: The TDCJ keeps an online record of all of its executions, including race, age, county of origin, and last words.[50] The TDCJ is the only corrections agency in the US to extensively catalog the last words of executed inmates, and the only one to post the last words other than the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).[51]

text: The main TDCJ prison cemetery for prisoners not picked up by their families after death is the Captain Joe Byrd Cemetery in Huntsville. Headstones of death row prisoners have prison numbers with the beginning “999”, a state designation for a death row inmate, or they have the letters "EX" or "X".[52]

text: Franklin T. "Frank" Wilson, an assistant professor of criminology at Indiana State University,[53] and a former PhD student at Sam Houston State University,[54] stated that about 2% of the people buried at the Byrd Cemetery had been executed, but the public believes that all executed prisoners are buried there because the Huntsville Unit, the site of execution in Texas, is in close proximity.[54] Most executed prisoners are claimed by their families.[52] While most prisoner funerals at Byrd Cemetery are held on Thursdays, in order to allow families of executed prisoners to make a single trip to Huntsville instead of two separate trips, the burial of an executed prisoner not claimed by the family is usually done the day after his or her execution.[52]

text: Opposition[edit]

text: The Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, a 501(c)(3) grassroots membership organization was founded in 1998. TCADP has members across the state of Texas working to educate their local communities on the problems of the Texas death penalty. TCADP hosts multiple education and training opportunities each year around the state including releasing an annual report on December 7 and a day-long annual conference which includes workshops, panel discussions, networking and awards. The conference is held in Austin during legislative years and in other Texas Cities in non-legislative years (2012: San Antonio). TCADP opened a state office in Austin in 2004 with a paid program coordinator and hired an executive director in 2008. TCADP is affiliated with the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

text: The March to Abolish the Death Penalty is the current name of an event organized each October since 2000 by several Texas anti-death penalty organizations, including Texas Moratorium Network, the Austin chapter of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, the Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement and Texas Students Against the Death Penalty.[55] Anti-Death Penalty Alternative Spring Break is an annual event started by Texas Moratorium Network in 2004 and now co-organized by Texas Students Against the Death Penalty. It serves as a training ground for students who oppose the death penalty.[56]

text: The Death Row Inner-Communalist Vanguard Engagement (D.R.I.V.E.) consists of several male death row inmates from the Polunsky Unit. Through a variety of non-violent strategies, they have begun launching protests against the perceived bad conditions at Polunsky, in particular, and capital punishment, in general. They actively seek to consistently voice complaints to the administration, to organize grievance filing to address problems. They occupy day rooms, non-violently refuse to evacuate their cells or initiate sit-ins in visiting rooms, hallways, pod runs and recreation yards when there is the perception of an act of abuse of authority by guards (verbal abuse; physical abuse; meals/recreations or showers being wrongly denied; unsanitary day rooms and showers being allowed to persist; medical being denied; paper work being denied; refusing to contact higher rank to address the problems and complaints) and when alleged retaliation (thefts, denials, destruction of property; food restrictions; wrongful denials of visits; abuse of inmates) is carried out in response to their grievances.

text: In 2016, Pfizer and other drug manufacturers banned the use of their products for lethal injections. Texas and other states were reported to be finding it difficult to obtain supplies of drugs for executions.[57]

text: Alleged execution of innocent persons[edit]

text: Cameron Todd Willingham[edit]

text: One notable case involves Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed by lethal injection on February 17, 2004 for murdering his three daughters in 1991 by arson, but where a 2009 article in The New Yorker, and subsequent findings, have cast doubt on the evidence used in his conviction.

text: In 2009, a report conducted by Dr. Craig Beyler, hired by the Texas Forensic Science Commission to review the case, found that "a finding of arson could not be sustained". Beyler said that key testimony from a fire marshal at Willingham's trial was "hardly consistent with a scientific mind-set and is more characteristic of mystics or psychics”.[58]

text: Governor Rick Perry expressed skepticism of Beyler's findings. He stated that court records showed evidence of Willingham’s guilt in charges that he intentionally killed his daughters in the fire. Perry is quoted in the report as stating of Willingham, "I’m familiar with the latter-day supposed experts on the arson side of it," and Perry said that court records provide "clear and compelling, overwhelming evidence that he was in fact the murderer of his children."[59] The Corsicana Fire Department also released a 19-page rebuttal of Beyler's report, stating that the report overlooked several key points that would show Willingham to be guilty.[60]

text: On July 23, 2010, the Texas Forensic Science Commission released a report saying that the conviction was based on "flawed science", but that there is no indication that the arson authorities were negligent or committed willful misconduct.[61]

text: Carlos DeLuna[edit]

text: Carlos DeLuna was convicted of murder and executed in 1989 for the killing of a 24-year-old gas station attendant on the evening of February 4, 1983.[50] Since DeLuna's execution by lethal injection, doubts have been raised about the conviction and the question of his guilt. An investigation published by the Columbia Human Rights Law Review in May 2012 has strengthened these claims of innocence by detailing a large amount of evidence suggesting the actual murderer was Carlos Hernandez, a similar-looking man who lived in a nearby neighborhood.[62]

text: Frances Newton[edit]

text: Frances Newton was executed in 2005 despite much doubt about her guilt, and much confusion over the actual weapon used in the murder(s) for which she was sentenced to death.[63]

text: Johnny Frank Garrett[edit]

text: Johnny Frank Garrett was executed in 1992 for killing 76-year-old nun Tadea Benz in Amarillo in 1981. In 2004, after DNA-analyses, Leonicio Perez Rueda was found to be the murderer of Narnie Box Bryson, who was killed four months before Sister Benz. After being confronted, the murderer confessed to killing Bryson. Rueda is also believed to have been the real murderer of Sister Benz.

text: Execution of Mexican nationals[edit]

text: Four Mexican nationals have been recently executed in Texas – José Medellín in 2008, Humberto Leal García in 2011, Édgar Tamayo Árias in 2014 and Rubén Cárdenas Ramírez in 2017 (Prior to Medellin v. Texas, four Mexican nationals were executed by Texas, who were Ramón Montoya, Irineo Montoya, Miguel Flores, and Javier Suárez Medina, in 1993, 1997, 2000 and 2001 respectively.) At the time of their arrests in the early 1990s, neither had been informed of their rights as Mexican nationals to have the Mexican consulate informed of the charges and provide legal assistance. A 2004 ruling by the International Court of Justice concluded that the U.S. had violated the rights of 51 Mexican nationals, including Medellín and García, under the terms of a treaty the U.S. had signed.[64] In response to the ruling, the Bush administration issued an instruction that states comply,[65] but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it had exceeded its authority. The Supreme Court also ruled in Medellin v. Texas that the treaty was not binding on states until Congress enacted statutes to implement it, and in Leal Garcia v. Texas declined to place a stay on the executions in order to allow Congress additional time to enact such a statute. A 2008 ruling by the International Court of Justice asked the United States to place a stay on the executions, but Texas officials stated that they were not bound by international law.[66]

text: García supporters complained about the use of bite mark analysis and luminol in determining his guilt.[67] However, García accepted responsibility for the crimes and apologized before his execution.[68]

text: Regarding the García execution, Texas Governor Rick Perry stated that "If you commit the most heinous of crimes in Texas, you can expect to face the ultimate penalty under our laws."[69]


document_title: Father of the Year (film)

question_text: where is the movie father of the year filmed

text: Father of the Year (film)

text: Cast[edit]

text:
David Spade as Wayne, Ben's dimwitted unemployed father
Nat Faxon as Mardy, Larry's father who is a scientist
Joey Bragg as Ben, Wayne's son who is a recent college grad and Larry's best friend
Matt Shively as Larry, Mardy's son and Ben's best friend
Bridgit Mendler as Meredith, Ben's love interest
Camille Clark as Caryssa, the hot townie
Jackie Sandler as Krystal, Mardy's wife, Larry's stepmother, Aiden's mother
Mary Gillis as Ruth, Larry's neighbor
Jared Sandler as Nathan, Ben's and Larry's friend
Bill Kottkamp as PJ, Ben's and Larry's friend
Kevin Nealon as Peter Francis, CEO of ISG Energy
Peyton Russ as Aiden, Krystal's son, Mardy's stepson, Larry's stepbrother
Moses Storm as Trey, Larry's drug dealer
Dean Winters as Geoff, a neighbor who runs in the "wife carrying race"...
Ashley Spillers as Olivia, Mardy's lab assistant

text: Production[edit]

text: In July 2017, it was announced that David Spade, Nat Faxon, Bridgit Mendler, Joey Bragg, Matt Shively, and Jackie Sandler would star in Who Do You Think Would Win? for Netflix.[1] The film was eventually re-titled Graduates[2] and then later Father of the Year.[3]

text: Principal photography took place in Boston and Hudson, MA  in June 2017.[1]

text: Release[edit]

text: The film was released on July 20, 2018.[4] The film was originally set to be released on June 29, 2018.[2]

text: Reception[edit]

text: Rotten Tomatoes gives Father of The Year a 0% Approval rating[5] This is the third time a film from Happy Madison Productions has a 0% approval rating after The Ridiculous 6 & Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star.[6][7]