The X Factor Journey
As the new series starts, we track X Factor's highs and lows
Rex FeaturesThe First Winner
This is where it all began...South London-born Steve Brookstein became the first X Factor winner way back in 2004. Despite an initial wobbly start, whereby he failed to impress both Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh, Steve went on to win the show with 6 million votes, the highest ever. Unfortunately, since then, Steve’s star has faded somewhat and he’s now working on his wife’s jazz album, and performing in intimate venues, such as the Maidstone Pizza Express.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesIt’s Chico Time
Simon Cowell famously walked out of the X Factor auditions when Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne voted Chico Slimani through to the next round. The Welsh singer went on to write the first song written especially for the show, “It’s Chico Time”, inspired by his catchphrase with the audience. Eventually Simon was won over, admitting that Chico was a born entertainer if not the star they were looking for. Since the 2005 series, Chico has appeared in Ricky Gervais’ Extras and is currently working on his new album.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesSimon Votes Out Own Act
In 2005, Simon Cowell literally had our mouths dropping in surprise as he voted out his own act, The Conway Sisters, in favour of Chico, who he claimed was more entertaining. This remains the only time that an act has been voted off by their own mentor.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesLouis Walsh In Watergate
No one messes with Sharon Osbourne, not even Louis Walsh it seems. In 2005, Louis told Journey South that their song choice of “Angels” was “lazy, lazy”, causing Sharon to burst into such hysterical laughter that Louis accused her of taking Ozzy’s drugs. Sharon wasn’t having any of it; she grabbed a glass of water and threw it over Louis, telling him: “Don’t you bring my husband in to it”, before telling Journey South that “the song was amazing”.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesLouis Walsh's Comings And Goings
In 2006, Louis Walsh claimed that he’d had enough of Simon’s insults and Sharon Osbourne’s tantrums. He quit saying he was going back to Dublin but... a week later and he was back for more, only to be sacked a year later and then reinstated when American choreographer Brian Friedmann didn’t work out.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesRay Quinn Picked For Bootcamp
In a surprising turn in 2006, Simon Cowell admitted he had made a mistake by not picking Ray Quinn for bootcamp. After adding the youngster to his team, Sharon and Louis also increased their contestants to eight. Ray went on to become the series runner-up and is now appearing in the West End production of Grease.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesLeona Lewis Performs With Take That
Leona Lewis’ star quality was evident even before she won the show in 2006. Despite being the favourite, it was her duet with Take That on “A Million Love Songs” that secured her win.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesLeon Jackson Beating Rhydian Roberts
In 2007 Welsh warbler Rhydian Roberts had been the 3/1 favourite to walk away the £1m recording contract but then, to everyone’s surprise, Leon Jackson beat him. Afterwards, nearly 2000 Rhydian fans claimed that they hadn’t been able to call in and Ofcom launched an official investigation.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosDannii Vs Sharon
The Dannii versus Sharon drama had us glued to our seats in 2007. Here are just a few of the choicer quotes: “Apparently she's envious because I'm younger and prettier” (Dannii on Sharon); “She knows she's there because of her looks, not because of her contribution to the music industry” (Sharon on Dannii). Things reached boiling point when Dannii missed part of one show because she had been crying after a row and it became the last series that Sharon worked on.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesLeona Lewis Cracking America
Everyone loved Leona Lewis and it was only a matter of time before the Americans did too. “Bleeding Love” entered the US Billboard chart at No.85 in February 2008 but rocketed straight to No.1 for four non-consecutive weeks.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesRachel Vs Dannii
In 2008, Rachel Hylton became the first contestant to go it alone as she fell out with her mentor Dannii Minogue and eventually ditched her. Rachel disagreed with Dannii’s choice of songs and outfits; but though the pair made up, Rachel was voted off before the final.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesDiana Vickers And Eoghan Quigg Romance
Diana Vickers and Eoghan Quigg were both pint-sized, baby-faced and brilliant singers, so it was only natural that they hooked up while on the show. Simon Cowell described them as “a couple of kids in love" but it wasn’t meant to be as they went their separate ways soon after the show’s final. Since 2008, Diana has appeared in the West End production of Lucky Voice, while Eoghan went back to school and started working on his new album.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesBritney’s Comeback
2008 had been a difficult year for Britney Spears but the Princess of Pop proved that she was back on form with a raunchy performance of “Womanizer”. Thirteen million tuned in to watch and they weren’t disappointed.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesMariah Carey And Finalists Perform “Hero”
Mariah Carey and 11 of the 12 X Factor finalists performed her hit “Hero” in aid of the Sun’s soldiers’ charity. The track became the fastest-selling single of 2008 and the chancellor even waived the tax paid on it.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Press AssociationJLS Triumph
2008 was a one of the most successful years for X Factor. As well as Alexandra Burke getting to No1 with “Hallelujah”, the show spawned a surprise hit in the shape of JLS. Despite losing out to Alexandra in the final, the boys went on to have two No1s and win two Brits. Not bad.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Big PicturesJedward Is Born
X Factor has had plenty of controversial acts but up there has to be Jedward in 2009. The Irish twins might have had larger than life hairstyles – and energetic dance routines to match, but entertaining as they were, many questioned their, erm, ability to sing.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesCheryl Cole's “Fight For This Love”
Cheryl Cole came under fire in the week running up to the 2009 performance of her first solo single on X Factor. She was slammed for pre-recording “Fight For This Love” and miming, while judging contestants who were forced to sing live. The star silenced her critics with a breath-taking show that threatened to overshadow even Whitney Houston’s comeback act.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesJoe McElderry Wins By A Landslide
Joe McElderry won the 2009 X Factor final with a massive 61.3% of the vote after he performed "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" with George Michael. Things haven't gone so well for the star since however, in April 2011, it was reported that he'd been dropped from Simon's record label. [b]<a href="https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/celebrity/x-factor" target="_new">X Factor – everything you need to know[/b]
PA PhotosThe Winning Loser
Losing isn’t really losing on the X Factor as Olly Murs found out in 2009. He narrowly missed out on winning (Joe McElderry beat him), but Simon signed him anyway, and with a No1 single and No 4 album, who really cares?
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesCheryl V Dannii Fash-Off
There’s always been as much competition between the X Factor judges as the contestants. And Cheryl and Dannii were no exception. Their weapon of choice was fashion. Each week, the pair wowed us with their increasingly stylish outfits. Who was the winner in the end? We couldn’t possibly say, but it was fun watching them!
X Factor – everything you need to know
WENNCheryl’s Woes
2010 was a difficult year for Cheryl Cole; following the stress surrounding her divorce from Ashley, she collapsed during a photoshoot. At first, it was thought she had exhaustion, but it quickly emerged the star was suffering from malaria. “I thought if I’m going to die, I want to die soon because I was in so much pain,” she told Piers Morgan afterwards.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesGuest Judges
With Cheryl Cole off sick with malaria and Dannii Minogue nursing her new baby, 2010 saw X Factor introduce some new faces. These included Katy Perry, Geri Halliwell, Natalie Imbruglia and a certain Nicole Scherzinger, who all took a turn as guest judges.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesGamu’s Exit
One of the show’s favourites, Gamu Nhengu, made a shocking exit in 2010 when Cheryl chose Katie Waissel instead to go through to the live shows. Things only got worse as it then emerged that Gamu and her family were facing deportation back to her native Zimbabwe. Gamu has since won her appeal to stay in the UK but politics and X Factor never were closer.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesRomance Ban
There had been plenty of liaisons in the past but the 2010 X Factor was a romance-free zone. The show's bosses employed security staff to keep an eye on contestants in their temporary home, in an attempt to stop them sneaking into each other’s rooms.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesAuto-Tuning Scandal
X Factor has had its fair share of scandals over the years but perhaps the most significant was the auto-tuning debate. In 2010, it emerged that producers were using “post-production effects” to make those pegged as favourites sound better. The public weren’t impressed and it was agreed that this technique would no longer be used.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesTake That's Reunion
X Factor has hosted a number of “firsts” in its history, but most memorable was the moment Robbie Williams rejoined Take That in 2010. It had been 15 years since the band sung together but this comeback performance confirmed the fivesome were Back For Good.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosKatie Waissel
One of the most divisive acts in X Factor history, 2010’s Katie Waissel split the country with her tears, mini meltdowns and often-emotional performances. Will the American version of the show have anyone like her, we wonder?
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesSimon Goes Stateside
After Simon’s contract with American Idol came to an end, it was inevitable that he was going to launch his own version of the show. Talking about putting a team together, Simon said: "It's pointless hiring judges who don't know anything about the music business. I'll probably go and find someone who did what I did for a living. I was an A&R guy [talent scout] for 20 years." Therefore the first judge he hired was a relative unknown outside the music industry, record producer L.A. Reid.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosSteve V Dermot
Steve Jones went up against Dermot O’Leary for the presenting slot on US X Factor. Just like Cheryl, Steve’s critics said that the American audiences would have difficulty understanding his accent but the Welshman won out in the end and joins Nicole Scherzinger as the show’s host.
X Factor – everything you need to know
WENNDannii Quits
It was a sad day when X Factor stalwart Dannii Minogue quit. The judge revealed that she wanted to concentrate on motherhood and making baby Ethan her “main priority”. "I've worked my whole life and enjoy what I do, but I wish I could film every second of Ethan's day and watch it over and over," she said.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosPaula Abdul Joins Up
No one was very surprised when Simon Cowell asked his former American Idol co-judge Paula Abdul to join his team on the US X Factor. The music mogul was determined to have her, even saying: “I would’ve cancelled” the first round of auditions “if her deal hadn’t closed in time.”
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosCheryl Cole Confirmed And Then Sacked
Cheryl Cole followed Simon to the US, after months of speculation. However the world was left shocked when she was sensationally sacked, two weeks in, allegedly because of her accent and lack of chemistry with fellow judge Paula Abdul.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosNicole Replaces Cheryl
Nicole Scherzinger had been set to host the show with Steve Jones but, with Cheryl Cole's dismissal, the former Pussycat Doll was promoted to judge, alongside LA Reid, Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosLouis Walsh returns
With Simon Stateside andDannii andCheryl no longer in the picture, it was all change for the original X Factor panel, well apart from Louis Walsh that is.Louis has made more comebacks than a boomerang and he is now the only original judge left in the line-up. The Irish boyband manager is still a firm favourite with audiences and, after the recent sexual assault allegations were dropped, he received a standing ovation from the audience at one of the auditions.
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesGary Barlow comes on board
It’s a good year for the Take That boys, not only did Robbie Williams get back with the band, butGary Barlow became one of the new UK X Factor judges. With host Dermot O’Leary dubbing him “the newSimon Cowell”, it appears thatGary isn’t all sweetness and light. We can’t wait!
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesKelly Rowland steps up to the challenge
Kelly Rowland was also announced as one of the new judges. With almost 15 years in the business she’s certainly got the experience. The question on everyone’s lips is “does she have the opinions?” Rumour has it she’s having trouble coming to grips with some of the British accents. Just as well Cheryl’s not on the panel still!
X Factor – everything you need to know
Rex FeaturesTulisa completes the line-up
Tulisa Contostavlos, to some, was a surprising choice to complete the judging panel. The N-Dubz’ chart success really only began to happen in 2009, so she could be a gamble for Simon. However, on the plus side, she can be quite feisty, which makes her well equipped to go head-to-head with the other judges.
X Factor – everything you need to know
PA PhotosThe dress-off
We’ll miss the battle of the style icons that are Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue, but bring on Tulisa versus Kelly. The new X Factor judges have been certainly causing a flurry of interest with their audition outfits. Who will be the overall winner? Well we’ll have to wait until the live shows to find out...
X Factor – everything you need to know
