The X Factor
- This article refers to the British version of The X Factor. For the Australian version, see The X Factor (Australia)
| The X Factor | |
|---|---|
| File:X Factor Logo.png | |
| Starring | Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh |
| No. of series | Currently on 3rd series |
| Production | |
| Producers | FremantleMedia, talkbackTHAMES, SYCOtv |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV1 |
| Release | Summer 2004 |
The X Factor is a British popular music talent show, broadcast on Saturdays on ITV1, with spinoff "behind-the-scenes" shows The Xtra Factor and X Factor 24/7 screened on ITV2. It is similar in format to Pop Idol and is produced by FremantleMedia's talkbackTHAMES and Simon Cowell's production company SYCOtv. The "X Factor" of the title refers to the undefinable "something" that makes for star quality.
The Theme Tune:
http:/upwiki/wikipedia/en/2/2d/X_Factor_Theme_Tune.ogg
The show is primarily concerned with identifying singing talent, though appearance, personality, stage presence and dance routines are also an important element of many performances. Some acts also accompany themselves on guitar or piano, though almost always over a backing track. The prize is the offer of a potentially lucrative recording deal (in addition to the publicity that appearance in the later stages of the show itself generates).
The first series ran from September to December 2004, and a second series ran from August to December 2005. The third series is currently airing on ITV, it started on 19 August 2006 and will conclude on 16 December 2006. The judges are Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, and Sharon Osbourne, and the show is hosted by Kate Thornton. Voice-overs are provided by Peter Dickson and Enn Reitel.
The X Factor is billed as the UK's biggest ever talent search, as it was the first such contest to have no upper age limit (although the minimum limit is 16), and to allow both solo singers and groups to compete. Usually those who audition are between the ages of 16 and 60. Over 50,000 auditioned for series 1, around 75,000 for series 2 and around 100,000 for series 3. Viewing figures of around ten million are claimed for series 2. Over three million public votes were cast in the series 2 semi-final, and six million in the first part of the final.
At the British Comedy Awards 2005, The X Factor beat Friday Night with Jonathan Ross and Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway to take the award for Best Comedy Entertainment Programme (rather bizarrely, since it is not intended as comedy). The award was presented by Ricky Gervais.
Number of series
- Series 1 (2004)
- Series 2 (2005)
- Series 3 (2006) (ongoing)
- Series 4 (2007) (future event)
The X Factor returned for a third series on August 19, 2006. The third series may be different to the last two series. Go to its main article for more information.
The X Factor: Battle of the Stars
This special edition of the show started on 29 May 2006, and lasted for eight consecutive nights. Nine celebrity acts participated, which had to sing live in front of the nation, facing the judges of the previous X Factor series, Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh. It was reported on 26 August 2006, that Simon Cowell had axed the show because he said it was 'pointless'.
Just as in the main series, there were three fiercely contested categories:
16 - 24s solo - Sharon Osbourne
- Michelle Marsh - Eliminated 3rd, 31 May 2006
- Nikki Sanderson - Eliminated 5th, 2 June 2006
- Matt Stevens - Runner-up, 5 June 2006
Over 25s solo - Louis Walsh
- Lucy Benjamin - Winner
- Gillian McKeith - Eliminated 2nd, 30 May 2006
- Chris Moyles - Eliminated 7th, 4 June 2006
Groups - Simon Cowell
- Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee - Eliminated 1st, 29 May 2006
- James Hewitt and Rebecca Loos - Eliminated 4th, 1 June 2006
- The Chefs - a quartet of celebrity chefs. Namely: Jean-Christophe Novelli, Aldo Zilli, Paul Rankin and Ross Burden- Eliminated 6th, 3 June 2006
The X Factor - Series 3
Series 3 started on 19 August and will end on 16 December 2006.
Simon Cowell has also stated that there could be a 14-24's category, however during the audition process the category was named as '16 - 24'.
Cowell has also said that the current Xtra Factor host Ben Shephard will become a second presenter, meaning that a space could be open for a potential third presenter to present The Xtra Factor on ITV2.
Hints by Cowell and the surrounding media that a fourth judge may be added full time proved to be a rumour. Paula Abdul appeared on the show as a guest judge at the London auditions and it has been hinted that more guest judges may appear during the live shows.
Simon Cowell said on ITV's This Morning that he was looking for the next Boyzone or Spice Girls -- "The next international boyband or girlband is what I want to see in this years show".
Spin-off shows also making a return could include the week-day show Xtra Factor 24/7 which followed the finalists round during the Live Show period.
An open audition took place at Old Trafford Football Stadium, in Manchester on June 18. Nearly 20,000 auditioned.
General format
There are four stages to The X Factor competition:
- Stage 1: Auditions
- Stage 2: Boot camp
- Stage 3: Visits to judges' homes
- Stage 4: Live shows (finals)
The competition is split into three categories: vocal groups (including duos), solo singers aged 16–24, and solo singers aged 25 and over. There is, however, only one final winner.
In the initial weeks of the show, public auditions are held at various locations across the UK. Each act enters the audition room (often after waiting for hours), and delivers a stand-up unaccompanied performance of their chosen song to the three judges. If at least two of the three judges say "yes" then the act goes through to the next stage. If two of the three say "no", the act is sent home.
Only a small selection of auditions are broadcast – usually the best, the worst and the most bizarre (although the oddest are asked to return for a special appearance in the final as seen in the past seasons). Much like Pop Idol, many acts face harsh criticism from the judges, especially from the controversial Simon Cowell.
After all auditions are complete, each of the three judges is allocated a category to mentor. The contestants who survived stage one are then further refined through a series of performances at "boot camp" and at the judges' homes, until a small number eventually progress to the live finals (nine in series 1 and twelve in series 2).
The finals consist of a series of two live shows each Saturday evening, with one act eliminated each week. In the first few weeks of the finals, each act performs once in the first show in front of an auditorium audience and the three judges. Acts usually choose a cover of a pop standard or contemporary hit, and sing over a pre-recorded backing track, occasionally with additional live backing singers or dancers.
After each act has performed, the judges comment on their performance, often commenting on vocal performance and stage presence. Once all the acts have appeared, the phone lines open and the viewing public vote on which act they want to keep. In the results show, screened an hour or so later, the two acts polling the fewest votes are revealed. Both these acts perform their song again in a "final showdown", and the judges vote on which of the two to send home. Ties should not be possible, but in the event that a judge refuses to cast a vote the act who came last in the public vote is sent home. The actual number of votes cast for each act is not revealed, nor even the order (this is presumably to maintain interest in the event that there might be a clear winner from an early stage).
Once the number of contestants has been reduced to four (series 1) or five (series 2) or six (series 3), the format changes. Each act performs twice in the first show, with the public vote opening after the first performance. The second show reveals which act polled the fewest votes, and they are automatically eliminated from the competition (the judges do not have a vote; their only role is to comment on the performances). In series 1 the acts also reprised one of their songs in the second show.
This continues until only two (series 1 & 3) or three (series 2) acts remain. These acts go on to appear in the grand final which decides the overall winner by public vote.
The X Factor beyond the UK
Viewers in the Republic of Ireland have been able to vote in both series of The X Factor via SMS and telephone. However, Irish viewers have been given the chance to watch it on Irish terrestrial TV, via the Irish TV station, TV3. Last year, viewers in Ireland could only watch it via the Northern Ireland channel, UTV but were still given the chance to vote. There have been Irish acts collectively in two series' finals: Tabby in series 1, and The Conway Sisters and Phillip in series 2.
In early July of 2006, the show held auditions in Ballsbridge, Dublin. This means that, now, the show's relationship with the Republic of Ireland is practically equal to that with the United Kingdom.
- The X Factor (Australia) began screening in February 2005 on Network Ten. The judges are Mark Holden (Australian Idol judge), Kate Ceberano (singer), and John Reid (a Scottish events manager). Daniel MacPherson (from the soap opera Neighbours and British police drama The Bill) is the show's host. It rated poorly.
- X Factor (Belgium) began screening in September 2005 on VTM; Udo Mechels won the competition with the Cappaert Sisters in second.
- X Factor (Netherlands) will be appearing on RTL 4 after the autumn of 2006.
- The X Factor (Colombia) The first Latin American version (El Factor X), which was made in Bogotá, started screening in September 2005 and ended by December.
- Секрет Успеха, the first Russian series premiered on RTR in late 2005.
- A pan-Arabian version will air under the name The X Factor, XSeer Al Najah (The X Factor, The Essence of Success) from March 26th 2006.
- As part of Simon Cowell's deal to remain on American Idol, a United States version of The X Factor cannot be produced.
Controversy
The series was controversial from the beginning. Tabloid reports claimed that the show was fixed, after it emerged that Louis Walsh had allegedly cheated and tried to help a band that he used to manage get through to the final stages of the show. Footage of Simon Cowell and Sharon Osbourne coaching contestants to argue back to the judges was also being sold over the Internet to the highest bidder.
Simon Fuller, the creator of Pop Idol, claimed that the format was a rip-off of his own show, and, through his company 19 TV, filed a lawsuit against The X Factor producers FremantleMedia, Simon Cowell and Cowell's companies Simco and Syco [1]. A High Court hearing began in London, England in November 2005 but was quickly adjourned. An out-of-court settlement was reached at the end of the month. [2]
Sharon and Louis were rapped in October 2005 for tactical voting, due to an alleged pact against Simon Cowell carried forward from the first series. Louis was alleged to have told Chenai Zinyuku in the second live show of the second series that she was safe, because "Sharon owed him one" from the previous show. Later in the same series Louis was heavily criticised for casting the deciding vote to keep Irish group The Conway Sisters in the show at the expense of the popular Maria Lawson, especially after it was revealed that he had known the Conways personally prior to the show.
There is a suspicion that some of the controversy surrounding the show, such as the bickering between the judges, is deliberately orchestrated to attract publicity. On one occasion, judge Louis Walsh announced after the live Saturday show that he would quit the series, on accounts that the other two judges had been 'bullying' him. This included various verbal assaults on Louis, and Sharon Osbourne even throwing water over him, live on air. Louis' announcement was claimed by many to be a publicity stunt, especially when Louis decided to return to the show the following Saturday night.
As of August 2006 The X Factor is being sponsored by a mobile phone company, Nokia.
DVDs
- The X Factor: The Greatest Auditions Ever 2004, 8 November 2004
- The X Factor: The Greatest Auditions Ever 2005, 7 November 2005
- The X Factor: The Greatest Auditions Ever 2006, will be released 6 November 2006