Whenever I see these clips I think of Ben Elton's Chart Throb
Where the producers divide contestants into Blingers, Mingers and Clingers - cynically grooming and exposing the vulnerable in their pursuit of 'good telly'.
It would be better for the kid to escape the clutches of the Talent Machine soonest possible - but he won't. According to insiders the contracts contestants sign mean that they belong to the programme makers until they are squeezed dry of any publicity potential.
Get this - even if they win, they have to hand back their prize money in return for all the 'coaching costs' incurred during the contest, it's in the contract.
There was a really interesting article about this the other day here justpaste.it/c8g Oh Deary Me Look What Happened!
EDIT: various kind souls have rescued the article, here's one here www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=72549341
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