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| X Factor voting complaints soar | X Factor voting complaints soar |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| About 1,100 people have now complained to media watchdog Ofcom they were unable to vote by phone for Rhydian Roberts in The X Factor. | About 1,100 people have now complained to media watchdog Ofcom they were unable to vote by phone for Rhydian Roberts in The X Factor. |
| The 24-year-old Welsh favourite was beaten to the title in Saturday's ITV live show by Scotland's Leon Jackson. | The 24-year-old Welsh favourite was beaten to the title in Saturday's ITV live show by Scotland's Leon Jackson. |
| But Leon's mother claimed many of his supporters were also foiled in their attempt to call in and back him. | But Leon's mother claimed many of his supporters were also foiled in their attempt to call in and back him. |
| The programme said the high number of calls meant some people were greeted by engaged tones. | The programme said the high number of calls meant some people were greeted by engaged tones. |
| Ofcom said earlier on Tuesday it had had 700 complaints, and that later jumped dramatically to 1,100. | Ofcom said earlier on Tuesday it had had 700 complaints, and that later jumped dramatically to 1,100. |
| I just thought as a loyal Welsh person I should put in my vote for him, but it couldn't record my vote First Minister Rhodri Morgan | I just thought as a loyal Welsh person I should put in my vote for him, but it couldn't record my vote First Minister Rhodri Morgan |
| Some of those said they tried to vote dozens of times but could not get through. | Some of those said they tried to vote dozens of times but could not get through. |
| "We are now working with [phone regulator] PhonepayPlus to investigate the matter," said a spokeswoman. | "We are now working with [phone regulator] PhonepayPlus to investigate the matter," said a spokeswoman. |
| Ofcom said there was no timescale for the completion of its investigation. | Ofcom said there was no timescale for the completion of its investigation. |
| Before Saturday's final, Rhydian was clear favourite, but he was pipped at the post and to a £1m recording contract by Scottish crooner Leon, who sang a duet with Kylie Minogue on the live show. | Before Saturday's final, Rhydian was clear favourite, but he was pipped at the post and to a £1m recording contract by Scottish crooner Leon, who sang a duet with Kylie Minogue on the live show. |
| A stream of Rhydian supporters contacted the BBC to complain that they could not get through and some radio stations in Wales said they would boycott Leon's single and demand a recount. | A stream of Rhydian supporters contacted the BBC to complain that they could not get through and some radio stations in Wales said they would boycott Leon's single and demand a recount. |
| Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan revealed he was among those who tried to call in but failed to get through. | Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan revealed he was among those who tried to call in but failed to get through. |
| Mr Morgan told BBC Radio Wales: "I can confirm that at around 29 minutes past 10 I attempted to vote for Rhydian and I couldn't get through, so I think if thousands of people had the same experience as me..." he said. | Mr Morgan told BBC Radio Wales: "I can confirm that at around 29 minutes past 10 I attempted to vote for Rhydian and I couldn't get through, so I think if thousands of people had the same experience as me..." he said. |
| Leon Jackson, 18, walked away with the £1m record deal | Leon Jackson, 18, walked away with the £1m record deal |
| Mr Morgan admitted he did not hear Rhydian, of Sennybridge, Powys, perform. | Mr Morgan admitted he did not hear Rhydian, of Sennybridge, Powys, perform. |
| "But I just thought as a loyal Welsh person I should put in my vote for him, but it couldn't record my vote so my telephone bill will be smaller," he said. | "But I just thought as a loyal Welsh person I should put in my vote for him, but it couldn't record my vote so my telephone bill will be smaller," he said. |
| No reported faults | No reported faults |
| Leon told the BBC he felt he would be under closer scrutiny now: | |
| "I went and gave my best performance. You never know how the public is voting and that aspect of things is out of your hands," he said. | |
| "I just feel it's extra pressure now because I'll be under a lot of scrutiny and there's extra pressure for me to do well and produce really good stuff. I just want to give the public back something because they are the ones who put me in this position." | |
| Supporters of Leon also claimed they had been unable to vote for him. | Supporters of Leon also claimed they had been unable to vote for him. |
| Leon's mother Wendy Jackson told Glasgow-based Real Radio lots of people texted her to say they could not get through. | Leon's mother Wendy Jackson told Glasgow-based Real Radio lots of people texted her to say they could not get through. |
| "I even had one person tell me they had tried 300 times to get through to Leon on the landline and they couldn't get through - so it's not just the Welsh folk that the lines were jammed, the Scottish ones were as well." | "I even had one person tell me they had tried 300 times to get through to Leon on the landline and they couldn't get through - so it's not just the Welsh folk that the lines were jammed, the Scottish ones were as well." |
| X Factor production company Talkback Thames admitted some viewers trying to register their votes were met by the engaged tone, but blamed it on the sheer volume of calls. | X Factor production company Talkback Thames admitted some viewers trying to register their votes were met by the engaged tone, but blamed it on the sheer volume of calls. |
| "Some Virgin Media customers did experience problems getting through because of high call volumes, but there were no other reported faults on the lines." | "Some Virgin Media customers did experience problems getting through because of high call volumes, but there were no other reported faults on the lines." |
| A Virgin Media spokesperson said: "We are currently looking into the X Factor matter but so far have not found anything unusual. | A Virgin Media spokesperson said: "We are currently looking into the X Factor matter but so far have not found anything unusual. |
| Nigel Roberts told BBC Radio Wales Rhydian was due to sign a recording deal this week and hoped to do a tour. | Nigel Roberts told BBC Radio Wales Rhydian was due to sign a recording deal this week and hoped to do a tour. |