The X Factor

“The X Factor” is a British TV music competition designed to discover new singing talent, featuring hopeful singers selected from public auditions. Created by Simon Cowell, the show premiered in September 2004 and has been broadcast annually from August/September to December. It is produced by FremantleMedia’s Thames and Cowell’s company SYCOtv, airing on ITV in the UK and TV3 in Ireland. A behind-the-scenes spin-off, “The Xtra Factor,” is shown on ITV2. This show is the original version of the global “The X Factor” franchise. It was conceived as a successor to the popular “Pop Idol,” which went on indefinite hiatus after its second season, mainly because Cowell, a judge on “Pop Idol,” wanted to create a show he owned the rights to. The similarities between the two shows eventually led to a legal dispute. The term “X Factor” refers to the elusive quality that signifies star potential.

The initial judging panel included Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, and Louis Walsh. Dannii Minogue joined in the fourth season, and Cheryl Cole replaced Osbourne in the fifth season after she left. After the seventh season, Cowell and Cole departed to judge the American version of the show, and Minogue left due to her commitments to “Australia’s Got Talent.” Kelly Rowland, Tulisa Contostavlos, and Gary Barlow then joined Walsh for the eighth season, but Rowland did not return for the ninth season and was replaced by Nicole Scherzinger. Osbourne returned in 2013, replacing Contostavlos. Since 2007, Dermot O’Leary has hosted the show, taking over from the original host, Kate Thornton. The competition is divided into several stages, starting with auditions and culminating in the grand finale. Initially, contestants performed in front of just the judges, but from the sixth season onwards, auditions took place on a stage before the judges and a live audience. Successful contestants advance to “bootcamp” and then to “judges’ houses,” where judges select three or four acts in their category to mentor for the live shows. During the live shows, the public votes for their favorite acts based on weekly performances.