Given last night saw the airing of the 2009 X Factor final, it should come as no surprise that everyone is talking about it today. The annual event pulled in millions of viewers (19 million to be precise) and made plenty of money for ITV and Simon Cowell, but it wasn’t 18 year old Joe McElderry, the eventual winner, that caught the eye of most music aficionados.

That honour fell to former Beatle, Sir Paul McCartney.

In November 2008, McCartney was asked for his opinions on reality TV shows like X Factor and was rather scathing about them to say the least. NME.com reported him as saying: “It doesn’t encourage creativity. I don’t think you are going to get a Bob Dylan emerging from those shows, but then not everyone goes on those shows. I think it’s just a phase we are going through.”

Having slammed Cowell’s pride and joy, the last place you would have thought McCartney would show up is singing alongside all of this year’s contestants on the final. So has he forgotten what he said little more than a year ago or is he just looking to get his career back on track following a few years in what can only be described as the music wilderness? Either way, he has surely undermined his credibility by blatantly contradicting himself.

McCartney is not the only star to have criticised the show. In recent weeks, Sting joined the growing list of those ready to condemn it, branding it “TV karaoke”. However, Cowell hit back by stating that it was a legitimate opportunity for those that have previously had doors closed on them without ever having been given a chance to shine.

Well Mr Cowell, there are only five words that can be used in response to that – the disgrace that is Jedward!