The X Factor

This article refers to the British version of The X Factor. For the Australian version, see The X Factor (Australia)

For series-specific information see The X Factor UK series 1 and The X Factor UK series 2

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 Thames TV and Simon Cowell's production company Syco. The "X Factor" of the title refers to the undefinable "something" that makes for star quality.

The show is primarily concerned with identifying singing talent, though looks, 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 will aire on ITV from 12 August to December 23 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, and around 75,000 for series 2. 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 and 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.

The X Factor: Battle of the Stars

Starting on Monday, May 29 for 8 consecutive nights, nine celebrity acts will be participating. They have to sing live in front of the nation and they will face the judges of the previous X Factor series', Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh.

Just as in the main series, there will be 3 fiercely contested categories -

16 - 24's solo

Over 25's solo

Groups

The X Factor - Season 3

ITV has confirmed that there will be a third series of The X Factor. It will first aire on 12 August and ends on 23 December 2006. There will be a another week running at the beginning and another week running at the end. There will be 15 finalists instead on 12 and 9.

Simon Cowell has also stated that there could be a 14-24's category, thus allowing a wider age group to take part. Most people, however, are against the idea so it's less likely to be enforced.
Cowell is also stating that current The Xtra Factor host Ben Shepard will become a second presenter meaning that a space could be filled for a potential third presenter to present The Xtra Factor on ITV2. 
Not only that, but Cowell has stated the possibility of a fourth judge, so watch this space.
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 - in my opinion a very succesful show.

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.

Only a small selection of auditions are broadcast – usually the best, the worst and the most bizarre. 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, vocal ability and the like. Once all the acts have appeared, the phone lines open and the general 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), 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) 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 UK 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 in both years' finals: Tabby in series 1, and The Conway Sisters and Phillip in series 2.

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.
The X Factor Belgium began screening in September 2005 on VTM; Udo Mechels won the competition with the Cappaert Sisters in second.
The 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.

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, with both parties publicly saying nice things. [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 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.

References

External links