The news this week reports that 2007 X-Factor Leon Jackson was dropped by his record label just over a year after winning the £1 Million recording contract.

Compare that with Will Young - whose newest Album ‘Let it Go’ has been on an almost constant repeat in both my car and on my iTunes playlist. It’s seven years ago since Berkshire lad Will won Pop Idol, which was, by comparison with the monster product of today’s X-Factor, a much lesser affair.

Of course back then millions still voted - but the promotional juggernaut that now accompanies the X-Factor each year was still in its developing stages in 2002 with the UK only just starting to become saturated in reality-based shows.

So if Leon is dropped like a bad habit in just over a year, despite clinching the peak of his brief fame amid a whirlwind of national and international publicity and promotion. and yet Will can still be releasing singles and albums of his own bat as well as starring in stage and small-scale screen productions, you might ask ‘what is the difference?’

Simply, I would say, its fact that Will is naturally talented, and Leon… he just isn’t.

I used to get a bit of stick during my school days of 2002, and a bit after that, for liking Will. At school I suspect it was just the homophobia that tends to plague most 15 or 16 year-olds. — After then, I imagine it was because it just wasn’t ‘cool’ to enjoy reality TV shows….

To paraphrase Ricky Gervais’ superb ‘Extras’, You can either have instant fame and gratification, or long-term respect and admiration.

It seems Jackson got his 15 minutes in the spotlight, but it’s the effortlessly smooth and versatile Will who continues to write his own legacy. He’s not likely to get a string of Number One hit singles anymore - who is? - but there’s no doubt he’ll continue to forge his own career long after the dim flames of X Factor winner after X Factor winner are extinguished.

I sit and watch glimpses of Ross Kemp in Afghanistan, or Ross Kemp Returns to Afghanistan, and I can’t help saying to myself: this guy is such a pillock.

Don’t get me wrong - he’d knock ten shades of the you know what into most people and I respect him for being as hard as nails, but he’s now proving that by putting others in danger. There’s the argument that having a TV show pretty-much centered around him out there detracts from the excellent work our heroic armed forces are doing, but that’s not even what gets my goat.

I’m thinking about the poor bastard with the camera. The soldiers are doing amazing work and, yes, Kemp is following them with his every movement caught on camera. But how does it get caught on camera? Someone is there filming it all - that guy is put in identically-dangerous situations as the bloke we all think is fantastic, but where are the plaudits and protections for the cameraman?

I’d understand if he (or she) filmed Ross whilst he’s doing some routine stuff, only for Kempt to say: “Right, I’m off to dodge some landmines now or get some grenades thrown at me” - and promptly leave the chap with the camera in safety. But that wouldn’t make good TV, would it?

No. So the poor sod has to follow him around, running about and diving all over the place and putting his body and life on the line. They’re going to protect Kemp like the crown jewels because without him there’s no show, but am I being too cynical in thinking maybe they believe that blokes who can hold a camera are ten-a-penny? One gets blown up so we send another one?

I don’t know. Just seems a bit unfair to me! I suppose ‘Ross Kemp and Camera Crew Return to Afghanistan’ doesn’t have the same ring to it…

After it gathered dust on my shelf for a few months I’ve finally started reading CARRA: My Autobiography this week, the self-told tale of, of course, Jamie Carragher.

I would never class myself as a Liverpool fan as such, but having always looked out for their results more than any other Premier Legaue team over the years, they’ve always been a bit more special to me - and Carra has always been my favourite player.

He’s a 110%, no-nonsense, all-or-nothing central defender, and you can’t get enough of those. I can’t get enough of his book at the minute. It’s refreshingly honest and down to earth. It contains a few of those ‘you can tell this guy is a Premier League footballer’ moments in it, but it’s a great read.

His take on the Liverpool/Everton rivalry over the last couple of decades is excellent, his insights are terrific as spent his youngest years as the staunchest of Blues’ fans. He goes on to pretty much rip into the club over its handling of the Youth system and I’m pretty sure a lot more is to come.

Definitely worth a few quid if you can pick it up.

Let Your Love Flow
The Bellamy Brothers

Through the miracle of modern advertising, The Bellamy Brothers are once again re-born. Well over 30 years after it was first a hit, Let Your Love Flow once again peaked in the Top 20 of the UK Download chart before Christmas thanks to the Barclaycard TV ads.

Good stuff!