Hi, Sheena!
No, I'd never heard of Brenda so thank you for that.
As
you know this is the first time I've taken any real interest in the
X-Factor but I am aware that you don't necessarily have to win the
thing outright to achieve success - JLS coming second to Alexandra
Burke last year being living proof of that.
But
then, I was reading yesterday that Sunday's X-Factor pulled in 16
Million viewers - a million more than the programme's previous high the
week before. So, it stands to reason that the exposure given to those
who make it to the later stages of the competition must give them a wonderful chance to go on and achieve greater success.
As
for the other two guys you mention - I haven't a clue what they were
like but if I was their agent I think the first thing I'd do is
find them names that were a little more inspiring than Andy the Bin Man and
Chico the Goat Herder.
After all, for years no one gave Gerry Dorsey a second look until he changed his name to Englebert Humperdink. 
With Love
David