The X Factor (UK) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The X Factor |
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|---|---|
| Genre | Reality television |
| Created by | Simon Cowell |
| Presented by |
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| Judges | |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60–150 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV |
| Original release | 4 September 2004 – 2 December 2018 |
The X Factor was a popular British television show. It was a reality television competition where everyday people who dreamed of becoming singers got to show off their talent. The winner usually received a special music contract and a cash prize. This meant they could record and release their own songs!
The show was created by Simon Cowell and was shown on ITV every year from August to December. It aired on Saturdays and Sundays. The X Factor started in 2004 and took the place of another singing competition called Pop Idol.
Contents
Meet the Hosts
The X Factor had different hosts who guided the show and introduced the acts.
Early Presenters
The first host of The X Factor was Kate Thornton. She presented the show for three series, from 2004 to 2006. After Kate left, Dermot O'Leary took over in 2007. Dermot became very well-known for hosting the show. He presented for eight series in a row!
New Faces and a Return
Dermot O'Leary left the show for a short time after Series 10. In 2015, for Series 12, two new hosts joined: Olly Murs and Caroline Flack. They were the first duo to host the main show together. However, they only hosted for one season. Dermot O'Leary then returned to host The X Factor from Series 13 onwards.
Meet the Judges
The judges on The X Factor were famous people from the music industry. They gave their opinions on the contestants' performances and decided who would stay in the competition.
| Year | Series | Judges |
|---|---|---|
| 2004, 2005, 2006 | 1-3 | Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh |
| 2007 | 4 | Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue |
| 2008, 2009, 2010 | 5-7 | Simon Cowell , Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Cole |
| 2011 | 8 | Louis Walsh , Tulisa, Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland |
| 2012 | 9 | Louis Walsh, Tulisa, Gary Barlow, Nicole Scherzinger |
| 2013 | 10 | Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow, Nicole Scherzinger |
| 2014 | 11 | Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Mel B |
| 2015 | 12 | Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Nick Grimshaw, Rita Ora |
| 2016, 2017 | 13-14 | Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh, Nicole Scherzinger |
| 2018 | 15 | Simon Cowell, Ayda Field, Louis Tomlinson, Robbie Williams |
Show Winners
Each year, one talented act was crowned the winner of The X Factor. Many winners went on to have successful music careers.
| Year | Series | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Series 1 | Steve Brookstein | G4 |
| 2005 | Series 2 | Shayne Ward | Andy Abraham |
| 2006 | Series 3 | Leona Lewis | Ray Quinn |
| 2007 | Series 4 | Leon Jackson | Rhydian Roberts |
| 2008 | Series 5 | Alexandra Burke | JLS |
| 2009 | Series 6 | Joe McElderry | Olly Murs |
| 2010 | Series 7 | Matt Cardle | Rebecca Ferguson |
| 2011 | Series 8 | Little Mix | Marcus Collins |
| 2012 | Series 9 | James Arthur | Jahméne Douglas |
| 2013 | Series 10 | Sam Bailey | Nicholas McDonald |
| 2014 | Series 11 | Ben Haenow | Fleur East |
| 2015 | Series 12 | Louisa Johnson | Reggie n Bollie |
| 2016 | Series 13 | Matt Terry | Saara Aalto |
| 2017 | Series 14 | Rak-Su | Grace Davies |
| 2018 | Series 15 | Dalton Harris | Scarlett Lee |
The Xtra Factor
The Xtra Factor was a special spin-off show that aired right after the main X Factor show. It was broadcast on the British TV channel ITV2. This show gave viewers a behind-the-scenes look and extra interviews.
Many different people hosted The Xtra Factor over its 13 years. Some hosts included Ben Shephard, Fearne Cotton, and Holly Willoughby. Later, Olly Murs and Caroline Flack hosted it together for two seasons. Other hosts included Rochelle Humes and Melvin Odoom. The last hosts were Matt Edmondson and Rylan Clark-Neal.
On January 18, 2017, it was announced that The Xtra Factor would no longer be made. It was replaced by an online show instead.
Images for kids
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Open auditions taking place at the O2 Arena, London in May 2009
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Joe McElderry, winner of series 6, performing on The X Factor Live tour in 2010
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Graph showing the trend in UK viewership across the fifteen series.
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Kate Thornton (2004–2006)
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Dermot O'Leary (2007–2014, 2016–2018)
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Caroline Flack (2015)
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Olly Murs (2015)
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See also
In Spanish: The X Factor (Reino Unido) para niños
