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The X Factor

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The X Factor is a British popular TV music talent show, broadcast on Saturdays on ITV1 in the UK and on TV3 in the Republic of Ireland, with spin-off "behind-the-scenes" shows The Xtra Factor and The X Factor 24/7 screened on ITV2. It 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 judges are Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and, until Series 3, Louis Walsh, and the show was hosted up to Series 3 by Kate Thornton. Voice-overs are provided by Peter Dickson and Enn Reitel. The X Factor has been given another 3 Year contact with ITV which means the programme will run until series 6 in 2009 after that The X Factor might stay on. Kate Thornton and Louis Walsh have both announced they will not be returning for a fourth series. Two judges will be brought in to replace Walsh and the 16-24 category will be replaced with two 14-24 categories; one male and one female. It was announced on 2nd April 2007 that 80s pop star Sinitta will join the panel as the third judge. Finally on April 4th, Danni Minogue was announced as the 4th judge to join the panel.

The X Factor
File:X Factor Logo.png
The X Factor logo.
Presented byKate Thornton
(series 1-3);
Dermot O'Leary
(Signed for series 4 and series 5)
StarringJudges:
Simon Cowell,
Sharon Osbourne;
Sinitta Malone
(series 4-
Louis Walsh
(series 1-3)
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3 (4th series scheduled for 2007)
No. of episodes15 (Series 1)
18 (Series 2)
18 (Series 3)
TBA (Series 4)
Production
ProducersFremantleMedia,
talkbackTHAMES,
SYCOtv
Original release
NetworkITV1
ReleaseSeptember 2004 –
present
Releaseruntime - 60 - 120 minutes
Releaseruntime - 60 - 120 minutes
Releaseruntime - 60 - 120 minutes
Releaseruntime - 60 - 120 minutes
Releaseruntime - 60 - 120 minutes
Releaseruntime - 60 - 120 minutes
Releaseruntime - 60 - 120 minutes

Following nearly a month's worth of speculation, Dermot O'Leary was announced as the new host on 29 March 2007. It was revealed that he'd signed a contract worth £1 million to present two series of the programme on ITV. However, Dermot was not forced to leave the Big Brother franchise and will continue to present the shows sister shows this summer.

Versions of The X Factor have subsequently appeared in a number of other countries; these are summarised under "The X Factor beyond the UK".

The X Factor was devised as a replacement for the massively successful Pop Idol, which was put on indefinite hiatus after its second series, largely because Simon Cowell wished to launch a show that he owned the television rights to. (The perceived similarity between the shows later became the subject of a legal dispute.) The first series of The X Factor began in September 2004 and ran to December 2004. It was hugely popular and a second series ran from August to December 2005. The third series, sponsored by mobile phone manufacturer Nokia, aired from 19 August 2006 and concluded on 16 December 2006 with Leona Lewis.

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 single most important attribute that the judges are seeking, however, is the ability to appeal to a mass market of pop fans. The prize is a £1,000,000 (sterling) recording contract (in addition to the publicity that appearance in the later stages of the show itself generates, not only for the winner but the other highly ranked contestants).

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 14), 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 were 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. The series 3 final attracted eight million votes.

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.

A celebrity special edition – The X Factor: Battle of the Stars – was shown in May–June 2006.

It was revealed by the Daily Mirror newspaper on the 9 of December 2006 that Simon Cowell has intentions of launching a "Euro X Factor" within two years [5]. The show, if launched, would feature European countries staging their own X Factor contests, with a winner being announced for each. The individual winners would then take part in the "Euro X Factor". The concept is similar to that of World Idol and the Eurovision Song Contest; however, unlike these shows "Euro X Factor" would progress over a number of weeks, with an act being eliminated each week, until an eventual international winner is found. It is anticipated that such a show could attract over 100 million viewers per episode, which would make it the biggest talent competition on the planet, even more so than the popular US show American Idol.

Format

Template:The X Factor UK 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. This format has been modified for series 4.

Auditions

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.

Boot camp and visits to judges' homes

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 and 3).

Live shows

The finals consist of a series of two live shows each Saturday evening, usually 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 sing over a pre-recorded backing track, though sometimes live musicians, backing singers and/or dancers are featured.

In the first two series acts usually chose a cover of a pop standard or contemporary hit. In the third series an innovation was introduced whereby each live show had a different theme (for example, Motown). The contestants' songs were chosen according to this theme, and a celebrity guest connected to the theme was invited onto the show. Clips were shown of the guest conversing with the contestants at rehearsal, and the guest also performed in the later results show, immediately before the results were announced. (See the series 3 article for a full list of themes and guests.)

After each act has performed, the judges comment on their performance, usually focusing on vocal ability 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). In series 3, a twist was introduced in one of the live shows where the act with the fewest votes was automatically eliminated, and the two with the next fewest votes performed in the "final showdown" as normal.

Once the number of contestants has been reduced to four (series 1) or five (series 2 and 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 and 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.

Judges' categories

Series 4 (2007) (mentors TBA)
  • Male 14-24s
  • Female 14-24s
  • 25 and overs
  • Groups
Series 3 (2006)
The X Factor: Battle of the Stars
Series 2 (2005)
Series 1 (2004)

The Xtra Factor

The Xtra Factor is a companion show presented by Ben Shephard. The show airs on digital channel ITV2 every Saturday night. It features exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of The X Factor and shows the emotional responses of the contestants after the judges comment on their performances.

Cameras follow the finalists during their day, and some of the footage is aired in a spin-off show The Xtra Factor: The Aftermath, which is broadcast in the middle of the week on ITV2. The Xtra Factor: Xcess All Areas is a live show in which there are interviews, games and trips around the contestants' homes. The show also lets viewers know what songs the contestants will be singing in the next live show.

Dispute over rights to format

Simon Fuller, the creator of Pop Idol, claimed that the format of The X Factor was copied from 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 [6]. A High Court hearing began in London, England in November 2005, and the outcome was awaited with interest by media lawyers for its potential effect on the legal situation regarding the copyrighting of formats. However, in the event the hearing was quickly adjourned and an out-of-court settlement was reached at the end of the month. [7]

Controversy and criticism

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.[citation needed]

The "Judges' Homes" section of the competition has also been controversial. In the first series, Louis tried to pass off a Dublin flat as his own home, but it emerged it had been rented specifically for the occasion.[citation needed] In subsequent series different locations in Ireland have been used at the "Judges' Home" stage, but have not been described as belonging to Louis.[citation needed] By contrast, Sharon and Simon have taken contestants to homes they are known to either own or spend time living in.

Sharon and Louis were criticised 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.[citation needed] 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 worked with the Conways personally prior to the show.[citation needed] The Conway Sisters had supported Westlife, a band managed by Louis on one of their tours.

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.[citation needed] On one occasion, judge Louis Walsh announced after the live Saturday show that he would quit the series, claiming that the other two judges had been 'bullying' him.[1] 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.[2]

Sharon Osbourne has also been criticised for outbursts, including one aimed at first series winner Steve Brookstein live on air, and a Series 3 tirade against Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? presenter Chris Tarrant, who was in the show's audience prior to taping. Tarrant had apparently made a joke about Ozzy Osbourne to which Sharon took exception, but most of her outburst focused on criticising Tarrant's recent infidelity to his wife Ingrid from whom he was in the process of separating.[3] Following this incident rumours in the press indicated that Simon Cowell had felt her behaviour was both inappropriate and hypocritical, and was considering not renewing Sharon's contract for a fourth series.[4]

In comparison to the US equivalent American Idol, the show has been criticised on a number of occasions for producing inferior talent on the live shows, with American Idol's much higher production values (allowing for a weekly live band and a huge concert-size stage) making The X Factor look comparatively tawdry. [8] Many people in the press, including Simon Cowell himself and Rod Stewart, who guest starred on the show, have pointed out a huge gulf in talent and scale between the two shows.[9] It seems that series 3 winner Leona Lewis may be an exception to this accepted view, having been the only contestant cited as 'good enough' to compete in America.

The X Factor has been criticised for not protecting the online identity of contestants who reached the latter stages of the show. Domain names like leonalewis.net have been bought up and are now being sold for hundreds of pounds on Internet auction site eBay. Despite original problems with the listings of these domains on eBay there now seem to be no issues with the domains being sold for huge profits compared to the tiny fee that was paid for them. The owner(s) of these domains have been accused of cybersquatting by many, including the national press, but the owner(s) have responded by stating that they ran fan sites and simply don't have time for the site any more, hence the decision to sell them.[citation needed]

After series 3, it was discovered that ITV had overcharged viewers who voted via interactive television, making a total overcharge of approximately £200,000. ITV said a data inputting error was to blame and say they will refund anybody who was overcharged if they contact them. They will also make a £200,000 donation to Childline.[5] This error, and those by other broadcasters, eventually led to a suspension of all ITV's phone-in services on 5 March for an audit and meeting with ICSTIS. The suspension of phone-in programming also saw ITV Play taken off air.

The X Factor beyond the UK

The "UK" version of The X Factor effectively includes the Republic of Ireland on an equal footing, and viewers in the Republic have been able to vote in all three series via SMS or telephone. The first series was available to Irish viewers only through the Northern Ireland channel UTV, but subsequent series have been shown on Irish terrestrial TV station TV3. The show has held auditions in Ballsbridge, Dublin for all three series, and Irish acts reached the finals in both series 1 (Tabby and Roberta) and series 2 (The Conway Sisters and Phillip).

Acts who have released singles

Four singles released by contestants in The X Factor have reached number one in the UK Singles Chart:

Other singles have reached the top twenty. These include:

Acts who have released Albums

Five albums released by contestants in The X Factor have reached number one in the UK Albums Chart:

Other albums have also charted in the UK Albums Chart. These include:

DVDs

References

  1. ^ [1] Louis Quits X Factor? Digital Spy
  2. ^ [2] Louis agrees comeback deal http://www.digitalspy.co.uk
  3. ^ [3] Sharon Osbourne Clashes With Chris Tarrant Digital Spy
  4. ^ [4]Simon considers axing Sharon http://www.digitalspy.co.uk
  5. ^ "Reality Show Rip-Off". Sky News. 28 February 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
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