14 DAY TRIAL // Mary Byrne, one of the best voices now competing for the big prize in the latest edition of the X Factor, is reportedly being favored by enjoying the support of Tesco chain of supermarkets.
Reports in the media cited by RTE suggest that Tesco is encouraging its clients to vote for Mary because she’s been with them for more than a decade as a check-out girl.
This is clearly an advantage that other participants on the show do not have, and which virtually places her ahead in the competition by securing her a larger number of votes.
“The Mirror reports that the 50-year-old Tesco checkout worker from Dublin has enjoyed the full backing of the supermarket giant with workers being encouraged to ‘vote Mary’,” RTE says.
“During an ad break in last weekend’s live show, Tesco also paid for a slot on TV3 channel which said: ‘We’re behind Mary’,” says the same report.
In other words, because Tesco has already gotten more than a fair share of publicity thanks to Mary and her amazing voice, which has brought her comparisons to last year’s sensation Susan Boyle, it’s now backing her in the competition.
“The advert was played just before voting lines opened for the first time, and has attracted criticism from some fans of the show,” RTE says.
Fans say that, while Tesco and ITV bosses are trying to downplay this – or even refuse to comment altogether – the advantage will be painfully obvious this weekend.
“No other contestant has this level of support. It is unfair and unprecedented,” a source is quoted as saying.
Still, running the ad broke no broadcasting rule, other sources say. Tesco bosses, for all they’re concerned, are saying it was only meant to show support, not to tell people who to vote for.
“We are fully supportive of Mary and so are her friends and colleagues at Tesco, but as to how anyone votes, that is up to them,” Tesco says in the statement released to the British media.
On the other hand, the Daily Mail reports that, right now, Mary Byrne is the third favorite to win the competition, with Simon Cowell calling her “seriously, seriously good.”
Her performances so far should also speak volumes for the fact that she hardly needs the “unfair advantage” of receiving support from Tesco.
“As she sang It’s a Man’s World on The X Factor last weekend, the judges said that she just might win the contest. Her odds have now shortened to 21-to-1 to win – she’s just behind favorites Matt Cardle and Aiden Grimshaw,” the Mail says.
Check out the videos below to see what Mary Byrne is capable of – and then judge for yourself whether she needs any kind of help in the competition.
Mary Byrne – First judges audition
Mary Byrne – First live performance