The amount going to charity (at least here in the UK) seems to be the same whether it's Simon Cowell or the BBC organising it - they also have similar competitions.

What gets me is the way some of the acts have been lined up against each other in the semi finals and the way the guy the judges chose yesterday for second place and therefore a place in the final was one who should really have gone in for the X Factor rather than a competition supposedly designed for those who are not young pop style singers or singers, like Susan, who are clearly not X Factor material. He was chosen above a very good singing ventriloquist who much more clearly fitted the bill. Interestingly it was a singing ventriloquist who won the America's Got Talent competition last year.