AS regular readers will know, I'm not a great fan of reality TV. I find the likes of Big Brother, The Farm and I'm A Celebrity an instant turn off and it continues to amaze me why so many seemingly intelligent people continue to watch such drivel.

But you cannot argue with the viewing figures. The concept of allowing the public to decide the fate of contestants has proved a winner and as a result these sort of programmes have become incredibly powerful in a number of ways. Advertisers pay astronomical fees for the prime breaks because of the size and make-up of the watching audience which has meant big bucks for the creators and the networks both here and abroad.

The contestants are given time in the limelight and a nice cheque but the various deals when they exit are far more lucrative and the exposure can boost flagging careers. No-one should underestimate the power of such exposure, and the influence such shows can bring about.

There are two "elimination' shows that I do enjoy - the shame is that they often clash. One is Strictly Come Dancing which I have praised before for the way it encourages exercise. The other is The X Factor which is now entering a crucial stage as far as voting is concerned.

Basically the show is an updated version of New Faces. Whereas that show had Micky Most as the judge you love to hate, X Factor has Simon Cowell - though I quite admire him for his honesty. They are down to the last five acts now and one of them is Journey South - made up of Middlesbrough lads Carl and Andy Pemberton. Whether they win or not, the boys have already shown how talented they are and I'm sure they will go on to find fame and fortune.

I met their dad, Trevor, the other day and it's clear that both Trevor and his wife Glenda have brought the boys up in a happy family home. That and the fact that success has not come overnight probably explains why they are so level-headed. They came up with the name Journey South after quitting their jobs, buying a caravan and heading to London in a determined bid to make it in showbiz.

Apart from their undoubted talent, what I've really been impressed with is how they haven't forgotten or tried to hide their roots. Despite offers flooding in and considerable demands on their time, they still came back to their home town to turn on the Christmas lights the other week.

They always give Middlesbrough and the North-East a plug when interviewed and every time a presenter or article mentions which neck of the woods they come from it is subconsciously sending a positive message about the region to the viewers. Journey South have already done a great deal of good for the image of this area and they deserve our support.

The other finalists are said to come from Manchester, Morocco and two from London and I suspect there is a massive vote grabbing operation going on in those areas. Journey South are listed as coming from Middlesbrough but they are representing the whole of the North-East. They deserve to make the final later this month and I hope the whole of the region will text their votes this Saturday and up to the final.

The North-East has the talent to match anywhere. The X factor we've lacked in the past is self-promotion. So let's get behind Journey South and make sure the North-East has a voice in the final.

Published: 02/12/2005