ITV bosses have denied technical problems caused the favourite (and undoubtedly most talented) of the female Popstars to be voted off the programme and out of the newly created girl band at the last minute. Viewers were shocked when Javine Hylton, generally regarded as the most talented of the final six girl band contenders, was knocked out of the running at the last minute by a phone vote.
Some suggested a technical hitch was to blame after twenty Hylton fans called Capital Radio claiming they phoned the number published to support Javine, but got a recorded message telling them they had voted for fellow contestant Sarah Harding, who came fifth and as such got a place in the final girl group. But the company providing the telephone service, Red Fig, said there was no fault with the system. Spokeswoman Heidi Scrimgeour told Media Guardian: "The confirmation messages were correct for each number at all times when they were dialled.”
Both the girl and boy Popstar groups are now in place – the girl’s band is called Girls Aloud. Now the competition begins for the Christmas number one spot.
It’s generally accepted Javine, who has been critically acclaimed as one of the most talented contestants throughout the series, will now be snapped up for a solo career, with Popstar’s judge Louis Walsh known to be interested in signing her. No doubt she will become hugely successful while the winning bands will disappear without trace after a couple of hits. Just ask Robbie, Gareth and Liberty X – it can be good being the underdog.