[Flux]

This sounds very confusing and a lot of effort for something that didn't really need addressing. I've read the article through three times and still don't quite understand what real benefits it brings. They might as well just have numbers 1 through to 26 and pick their place at random.

That situation gives producers no control over the running order, which is the opposite of why they’re making this change. You could end up with 10 dull ballads in a row, or all the upbeat fun at the end of the show. I know some might not care about that and prefer the fairness of a draw, but the justification put forward that producers are making changes because they’re trying to create the best TV show through the most impactful running order holds water.

I totally agree that the new “solution” is confusing and never needed addressing in the first place, though.

The whole point of the two draws (first half/second half) was to keep some degree of jeopardy and perceived “fairness” on the acts’ part - i.e. They still drew their position to an extent - but to ultimately allow producers control over the running order. I think it was a good enough compromise and effectively disguised the fact that the actual decisions lay with producers. This new “producers choice” category totally diminishes that. If they’re after more control they may as well just do away with the draw altogether, or look at other options such as making the draw exclusively choose who performs first and who performs last so producers could control the running order around that.

I can see it being a damp squib every time a “producers choice” is selected in the draw as it means absolutely nothing.