The X Factor is back! And for the sixth year running, it once again promises to entertain us right up to Christmas.
But, just how much of the entertainment is real and how much is staged?
Are the live auditions, now backed by an audience, really the first of the series? And are Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole the only judges with a say on who goes forward?
Fresh from a number of auditions in London, three Derrygonnelly brothers can shed light on what really goes on behind the scenes, and for all you unsuspecting fans, make room for disappointment.
That's because, if you were Adrian, Stephen and Michael McGurn, otherwise known as '3MG', you may have every reason to feel hard done by.
The talented trio who play traditional, chart and wedding music, filled in an application form back in January, ahead of travelling to London in May where their success led to three auditions. But, while their musical skills were showcased three times over - not one audition was in front of the celebrity judges we see on TV.
Instead, the boys had to settle for the judgement of X Factor staff.
Yet, Adrian, 20, Stephen, 18, and Michael 16, say they had a brilliant experience, albeit the TV version can come across as deceiving to the public.
The talented brothers who formed '3MG' two years ago all sing and each play different instruments. Stephen plays the tin whistle and piano, while Adrian plays the piano and fiddle and younger brother Michael plays the flute and guitar.
The trio, sons of Pat and Lena and brothers to Jonathan, Carina and Ronan, will be the star attraction at a Fun Day concert in Derrygonnelly this Saturday, being organised by the village's Peace Group.
"We came together musically, more so in the last two or three years," Stephen explained this week.
"We would also play together at Mass in Derrygonnelly at Christmas and Easter, while Adrian conducts the choir and plays the piano every weekend.
"We were thinking about the X Factor since January and decided to fill in the application form. It was just asking for general details, and anyone could land on the day. We then went to London at the start of May for the first audition."
For their auditions, the boys sang Coldplay's, 'Viva La Vida' and the Kings of Leon, 'Use Somebody'.
"The first audition was in front of X Factor producers in the O2 arena in London. There were two judges.
"We got through the first one and then we had to go back to London for the second and third audition at the Emirates Stadium. The second audition was in front of more X Factor producers.
"We got through that and then we were brought back for an interview with them. They asked questions about our background. We went to the third audition in front of executive producers and that was in front of three people and it was recorded. We then got a letter to say we didn't get through the third audition."
So were the boys disappointed with the show's format?
"Yes, it can be a bit deceiving going by what you see on TV," Stephen said, "but we had a brilliant experience. We got to meet so many people who will be in the show. It was a great experience.
"It is totally different to what people think. You have to do so many things to get to the first stage. So, there are a lot of good acts out there that get turned away before they get to the judges we see on TV. And then there are some ridiculous acts who go forward because they make for good TV, not that we are showing any animosity or anything!" he laughs.
Despite not making it any further, '3MG' is already considering filling in another application for next year's show.
In the meantime, while Michael awaits his GCSE results with the intention to pursue his A-level studies at St Michael's College, Stephen is preparing to study finance at Queens University next month.
Adrian, meanwhile, is continuing his accountancy studies at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown.
