The X Factor (TV series)

For the original UK version, see The X Factor (UK). For other uses, see X Factor.

The X Factor
Format	Interactive reality television talent show
Created by	Simon Cowell
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Production
Producer(s)	Thames FremantleMedia SYCOtv
Running time	45–110 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	ITV
Original run	4 September 2004 (2004-09-04) – present
External links
Official website

The X Factor is a television music competition franchise created by Simon Cowell. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for Pop Idol. It is now held in various countries. The contestants are aspiring pop singers drawn from public competitive auditions. The programmes are produced by executive producer Simon Cowell and his company SYCOtv. The "X Factor" of the title refers to the undefinable "something" that makes for star quality. The prize is usually a recording contract, in addition to the publicity that appearance in the later stages of the show itself generates, not only for the winner but also for other highly ranked contestants.

The similarities between The X Factor and Idol prompted Idol creator Simon Fuller, along with 19 Entertainment, to file a lawsuit against Cowell, SYCOtv, and FremantleMedia in 2004. An out-of-court settlement was reached in 2005 allowing Fuller to gain a 10% share in The X Factor format, and preventing an American version until 2010. Fuller later filed another lawsuit in 2011, claiming that he had also been promised that he would be credited as an executive producer of The X Factor USA, but that SYCO, FremantleMedia, and Fox Broadcasting Company had failed to fulfill that promise; that lawsuit is pending.

Unlike Idol, where the judges only critique the contestants' performances, on The X Factor each judge "mentors" the finalists in a particular category, aiding them with song selection and styling, while also participating together in judging the contestants of the other categories. As well as Idol, new singing show The Voice has become a rival show to The X Factor.

The X Factor around the world

Location of different franchises of The X Factor

  Own version

  Joint version

The X Factor has been adapted for numerous international versions of the show:

Region/country	Local title	Television network	Seasons/series and winners	Judges	Presenters
Albania Kosovo Macedonia (Albanian)	X Factor	TV Klan Website	Season 1, 2012: Sheila Haxhiraj Season 2, 2012–2013: Arilena Ara Season 3, 2013-2014: upcoming season	Current Pandi Laço Alban Skënderaj Altuna Sejdiu (season 2–) Soni Malaj (season 2–) Former Vesa Luma (season 1) Juliana Pasha (season 1)	Alketa Vejsiu
Arab world	The X Factor, XSeer Al Najah سير النجاح X	Rotana TV (seasons 1–2) CBC (season 3–) Website	Season 1, 2006: Rajaa Kasabni Season 2, 2007: Muhammad El Majzoub Season 3, 2013: in progress	Current Carole Samaha (season 3–) Elissa (season 3–) Hussain Al Jasmi (season 3–) Wael Kfoury (season 3–) Former Khaled El Sheikh (seasons 1–2) Michel Elefteriades (seasons 1–2) Anoushka (season 2) Nelly (season 1)	Current Bassel Alzaro (season 3–) Yosra El Lozy (season 3–) Former Joelle Rahme (seasons 1–2)
Armenia	X-Factor ԻՔՍ-ՖԱԿՏՈՐ	Shant TV Website	Season 1, 2010–2011: Vrezh Kirakosyan Season 2, 2012–2013: Kim Grigoryan	Current Garik Baboyan Naira Gyurjinyan Gisane Palyan André (season 2–) Former Egor Glumov (season 1)	Aram MP3
Australia	The X Factor	Network Ten (season 1) Seven Network (season 2–) Website	Season 1, 2005: Random Season 2, 2010: Altiyan Childs Season 3, 2011: Reece Mastin Season 4, 2012: Samantha Jade Season 5, 2013: upcoming season	Current Ronan Keating (season 2–) Natalie Bassingthwaighte (season 3–) Dannii Minogue (season 5–) Redfoo (season 5–) Former Natalie Imbruglia (season 2) Kyle Sandilands (season 2) Kate Ceberano (season 1) Mark Holden (season 1) John Reid (season 1) Guy Sebastian (season 2–4) Mel B (season 3–4)	Current Luke Jacobz (season 2–) Former Daniel MacPherson (season 1) Chloe Maxwell (The Xtra Factor season 1) Natalie Garonzi (The Xtra Factor season 2)
Belgium	X Factor	VTM Website	Season 1, 2005: Udo Mechels Season 2, 2008: Dirk De Smet	Current Kris Wauters Maurice Engelen (season 2) Do (season 2) Former Jean Blaute (season 1) Liliane Saint-Pierre (season 1)	Current Hadise (season 2) Former Koen Wauters (season 1)
Bulgaria	X Factor	NovaTv Website	Season 1, 2011: Raffi Boghosyan	Maria Ilieva Vasko Vasilev Poli Genova Maga	Deo
Chile	Factor X	TVN Website	Season 1, 2011: Sergio Járlaz Season 2, 2012: Juan Gabriel Valenzuela	Current Tito Beltrán Karen Doggenweiler Mon Laferte (season 2–) José Luis Rodríguez (season 2–) Former Zeta Bosio (season 1)	Julián Elfenbein
China	The X Factor: Ji Qing Chang Xiang 激情唱响	Liaoning TV	Season 1, 2011: Li Shangshang Season 2, 2012: Chen Yumeng	Angie Chai Chih-ping Aduo Chen Yufan Ye Pei Lin Yilun	Da Zuo Shao Wenjie
	The X Factor: Zhongguo Zui Qiang Yin 中国最强音	Hunan TV	Season 1, 2013: in progress	Eason Chan Yik-shun Lo Ta-yu Zheng Jun Zhang Ziyi	Zhu Dan He Jiong
Colombia	El factor X	RCN TV Website	Series 1, 2005: Julio César Meza Series 2, 2006: Francisco Villarreal Series 3, 2009: Siam Series 4, 2013: upcoming season	Marbelle José Gaviria Juan Carlos Coronel	Andrea Serna
	El Factor X: Batalla de las Estrellas		Series 1, 2006: Luz Amparo Álvarez
	El factor Xs		Season 1, 2006: Andres Camilo Hurtado Season 2, 2007: Camilo Echeverry Correa Season 3, 2011: Shaira Selena Peláez	Current Marbelle José Gaviria Juan Carlos Coronel (series 1, 3–) Former Wilfrido Vargas (series 2)
Czech Republic	X Factor	TV Nova Website	Season 1, 2008: Jiří Zonyga	Gábina Osvaldová Ondřej Soukup Petr Janda	Leoš Mareš
Denmark	X Factor	DR Website	Season 1, 2008: Martin Hoberg Hedegaard Season 2, 2009: Linda Andrews Season 3, 2010: Thomas Ring Petersen Season 4, 2011: Sarah Skaalum Jørgensen Season 5, 2012: Ida Østergaard Madsen Season 6, 2013: Chresten	Current Thomas Blachman (seasons 1–2, 4–) Ida Corr (season 6–) Anne Linnet (season 6–) Former Lina Rafn (seasons 1–2) Remee (seasons 1–3) Carsten "Soulshock" Schack (season 3) Pernille Rosendahl (seasons 3–5) Cutfather (seasons 4–5)	Current Signe Molde (season 6–) Former Lise Rønne (seasons 1–2, 4–5) Signe Muusmann (season 3)
Finland	X Factor	MTV3 Website	Season 1, 2010: Elias Hämäläinen	Linda Brava Renne Korppila Gugi Kokljuschkin	Heikki Paasonen Jukka Rossi (Xtra Factor)
France Wallonia	X Factor	France: W9 (season 1) M6 (season 2) Website Belgium: RTL-TVI Website	Season 1, 2009: Sébastien Agius Season 2, 2011: Matthew Raymond-Barker	Henry Padovani (season 2) Olivier Schultheis (season 2) Véronic DiCaire (season 2) Christophe Willem (season 2) Marc Cerrone (season 1) Julie Zenatti (season 1) Alain Lanty (season 1)	Sandrine Corman (season 2) Jérôme Anthony (F@n Factor season 2) Alexandre Devoise (season 1)
Germany	X Factor	VOX Website	Season 1, 2010: Edita Abdieski Season 2, 2011: David Pfeffer Season 3, 2012: Mrs. Greenbird	Sandra Nasic (season 3–) HP Baxxter (season 3–) Moses Pelham (season 3–) Sarah Connor (season 1–3) Till Brönner (season 1–2) George Glueck (season 1) Das Bo (season 2)	Jochen Schropp Janin Reinhardt (Backstage)
Greece Cyprus	The X Factor	ANT1 ANT1 Cyprus Website	Series 1, 2008–2009: Loukas Giorkas Series 2, 2009–2010: Stavros Michalakakos Series 3, 2010–2011: Haris Antoniou	George Levendis Giorgos Theofanous Katerina Gagaki Nikos Mouratidis	Sakis Rouvas (live shows) Giorgos Lianos (auditions) Maria Sinatsaki (auditions, series 3–) Despina Kampouri (auditions, series 1–2)
Hungary	X-Faktor	RTL Klub Website After X, X - Mindent az X-Faktorról Cool TV Website	Series 1, 2010: Csaba Vastag Series 2, 2011: Tibor Kocsis Series 3, 2012: Gergő Oláh Series 4, 2013: upcoming series	Current Péter Geszti Róbert Szikora (series 4–) Gabi Tóth (series 4–) Róbert Alföldi (series 4–) Former Miklós Malek (series 1–3) Ildikó Keresztes (series 1–3) Feró Nagy (series 1–3)	Current Lilu (series 4–) Bence Istenes (series 4–) Former Sebestyén Balázs (series 1) Nóra Ördög (X-Faktor series 1–3)
Iceland	X Factor	Stöð 2 Website	Series 1, 2006: Jógvan Hansen	Einar Bárðarson Elínborg Halldórsdóttir Páll Óskar Hjálmtýsson	Halla Vilhjálmsdóttir
India	X Factor	Sony Entertainment TV Website	Season 1, 2011: Geet Sagar	Sonu Nigam Shreya Ghoshal Sanjay Leela Bhansali	Aditya Narayan
Indonesia	X Factor Indonesia	RCTI Website	Season 1, 2012–2013: Fatin Shidqia / Novita Dewi	Anggun Ahmad Dhani Bebi Romeo Rossa	Robby Purba
Israel	X Factor Israel	Channel 2 – Reshet Website	Season 1, 2013: upcoming season	TBA	TBA
Italy	X Factor	Rai 2 (series 1–4) Sky Uno (series 5–) Website	Series 1, 2008: Aram Quartet Series 2, 2008–2009: Matteo Becucci Series 3, 2009: Marco Mengoni Series 4, 2010: Nathalie Series 5, 2011: Francesca Michielin Series 6, 2012: Chiara Galiazzo Series 7, 2013: upcoming series	Current Morgan (series 1–3, 5–) Simona Ventura (series 1–2, 5–) Elio (series 4–) Mika (series 7–) Former Mara Maionchi (series 1–4) Claudia Mori (series 3) Anna Tatangelo (series 4) Enrico Ruggeri (series 4) Arisa (series 5–6)	Alessandro Cattelan (series 5–) Max Novaresi (Xtra Factor series 5–) Brenda Lodigiani (Xtra Factor series 5–) Francesco Facchinetti (series 1–4; Xtra Factor series 4) Alessandra Barzaghi (Xtra Factor series 4)
Kazakhstan	X Factor	Perviy Kanal Evraziya Website	Season 1, 2011: Dariya Gabdull Season 2, 2012: Andrey Tikhonov Season 3, 2013: Evgeniya Barysheva	Current Nagima Eskalieva Alexander Shevchenko Erlan Kokeev (season 3) Sultana Karazhigitova Former Ismail Igіlmanov (season 1–2)	Arnur Istybaev (season 2–) Adil Liyan (season 1)
Lithuania	X Faktorius	TV3	Season 1, 2012–2013: Giedrė Vokietytė	Saulius Prūsaitis Saulius Urbonavičius-Samas Vytautas Šapranauskas Rūta Ščiogoliovaitė	Marijonas Mikutavičius
Mexico	X Factor Mexico	Televisa	Season 1, 2013: upcoming season	TBA	TBA
Netherlands	X Factor	RTL 4 Website	Season 1, 2007: Sharon Kips Season 2, 2009: Lisa Hordijk Season 3, 2010: Jaap van Reesema Season 4, 2011: Rochelle Perts Season 5, 2013: current season	Current Angela Groothuizen (season 2–) Gordon Heuckeroth (season 2–) Ali Bouali (season 5–) Candy Dulfer (season 5–) Former Henkjan Smits (season 1) Marianne van Wijnkoop (season 1) Henk Temming (season 1) Eric van Tijn (season 2–4) Stacey Rookhuizen (season 2–4)	Current Martijn Krabbe (season 2–) Lieke van Lexmond (Backstage season 4–) Former Wendy van Dijk (season 1–4) Nathalie Bulters (Backstage season 3) Eva Treurniet (Backstage season 3)
New Zealand	The X Factor	TV3 Website	Season 1, 2013: in progress	Stan Walker Daniel Bedingfield Ruby Frost Melanie Blatt	Dominic Bowden
Norway	X Factor	TV 2 Website	Season 1, 2009: Chand Torsvik Season 2, 2010: Hans Bollandsås	Jan Fredrik Karlsen Elisabeth Andreassen (season 2–) Marion Ravn (season 2–) Klaus Sonstad (season 2–) Mira Craig (season 1) Peter Peters (season 1)	Ravi (season 2–) Guri Solberg (season 2–) Peter Moi Brubresko (Xtra Factor season 1–) Katarina Flatland (Xtra Factor season 1–) Charlotte Thorstvedt (season 1)
Philippines	The X Factor Philippines	ABS-CBN	Season 1, 2012: KZ Tandingan Season 2, 2014: upcoming season	Charice Martin Nievera Gary Valenciano Pilita Corrales	KC Concepcion
Poland	X Factor	TVN Website	Season 1, 2011: Gienek Loska Season 2, 2012: Dawid Podsiadło Season 3, 2013: current season	Czesław Mozil Kuba Wojewódzki Tatiana Okupnik (season 2–) Maja Sablewska (season 1)	Patricia Kazadi (season 3–) Jarosław Kuźniar (season 1–2)
Portugal	Factor X	SIC	Season 1, 2013: upcoming season	TBA	TBA
Romania	X Factor	Antena 1 Website	Season 1, 2011–2012: Andrei Leonte Season 2, 2012: Tudor Turcu Season 3, 2013: upcoming season	Delia Matache (season 2–) Cheloo (season 2–) Dan Bittman (season 2–) Paula Seling (season 1) Mihai Morar (season 1) Adrian Sînă (season 1)	Răzvan Simion Dani Oțil
Russia	Sekret Uspekha Секрет Успеха	RTR Website	Season 1, 2005: Vladimir Sapovskiy Season 2, 2007: Nikolai Timohin	Valeriy Meladze Valery Garkalin (season 2) Tigran Keosayan (season 2) Katerina Von Gechmen-Valdek (season 1) Aleksandr Revzin (season 1)	Tutta Larsen Aleksey Chumakov (season 1) Elena Vorobey (season 1)
	Faktor A Фактор А	Russia 1 Website	Season 1, 2011: Sergei Savin Season 2, 2012: Alexey Sulima Season 3, 2013: Mali	Lolita Milyavskaya Roman Emelyanov Igor Nikolayev (season 2–) Alla Pugacheva (chairperson) Boris Krasnov (season 1)	Philipp Kirkorov Alexey Chumakov (season 2–) Vladimir Zelenski (season 1)
Serbia	X Faktor Srbija Икс фактор	Radio Television of Serbia or Prva Srpska Televizija	Season 1, 2013: upcoming season	TBA	TBA
Slovakia	X Factor Slovensko	TV JOJ	Season 1, 2013: upcoming season	TBA	TBA
Slovenia	X Faktor	POP TV	Season 1, 2012: Demetra Malalan	Damjan Damjanovič Jadranka Juras Aleš Uranjek	Peter Poles Vid Valič
Spain	Factor X	Cuatro Website	Season 1, 2007: María Villalón Season 2, 2008: Vocal Tempo	Miqui Puig Jorge Flo Eva Perales	Nuria Roca
Sweden	X Factor	TV4 Website	Season 1, 2012: Awa Santesson-Sey	Andreas Carlsson Marie Serneholt Orup Ison Glasgow	David Hellenius
Ukraine	The X Factor	STB Website	Season 1, 2010–2011: Olexiy Kuznetsov Season 2, 2011: Victor Romanchenko Season 3, 2012: Aida Nikolaichuk	Igor Kondratyuk Sergei Sosedov Seryoga Irina Dubcova (series 3–) Yolka (series 1–2)	Oksana Marchenko
United Kingdom	The X Factor	ITV Website	Series 1, 2004: Steve Brookstein Series 2, 2005: Shayne Ward Series 3, 2006: Leona Lewis Series 4, 2007: Leon Jackson Series 5, 2008: Alexandra Burke Series 6, 2009: Joe McElderry Series 7, 2010: Matt Cardle Series 8, 2011: Little Mix Series 9, 2012: James Arthur Series 10, 2013: upcoming series	Current Louis Walsh Sharon Osbourne (series 1–4, 10–) Gary Barlow (series 8–) Nicole Scherzinger (series 9–) Former Simon Cowell (series 1–7) Brian Friedman (series 4 auditions) Dannii Minogue (series 4–7) Cheryl Cole (series 5–7) Kelly Rowland (series 8) Tulisa Contostavlos (series 8–9)	Current Dermot O'Leary (series 4–) Caroline Flack (The Xtra Factor, series 8–) Former Kate Thornton (series 1–3) Ben Shephard (The Xtra Factor series 1–3) Fearne Cotton (The Xtra Factor series 4) Holly Willoughby (The Xtra Factor series 5–6) Konnie Huq (The Xtra Factor series 7) Olly Murs (The Xtra Factor series 8–9)
	The X Factor: Battle of the Stars		Series 1, 2006: Lucy Benjamin	Simon Cowell Sharon Osbourne Louis Walsh	Kate Thornton
United States	The X Factor	Fox Website	Season 1, 2011: Melanie Amaro Season 2, 2012: Tate Stevens Season 3, 2013: upcoming season	Current Simon Cowell Demi Lovato (season 2–) Kelly Rowland (season 3–) Paulina Rubio (season 3–) Former Cheryl Cole (season 1 auditions) Paula Abdul (season 1) Nicole Scherzinger (season 1) L.A. Reid (season 1–2) Britney Spears (season 2)	Current Mario Lopez (season 2–) Former Steve Jones (season 1) Khloé Kardashian (season 2)
Vietnam	The X Factor Vietnam	VTV3	Season 1, 2013: upcoming season	Hồ Ngọc Hà

Disputes and controversies

Since it was first broadcast in 2004, The X Factor has been the subject of much controversy and criticism in the United Kingdom and many other countries where it was broadcast.

Legal dispute

Simon Fuller, the creator of Pop Idol, claimed that the format of The X Factor was copied from his own show. Through his company 19 TV, Fuller filed a lawsuit against The X Factor producers FremantleMedia, The X Factor creator Simon Cowell, and Cowell's companies Simco and Syco. A High Court hearing began in London 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, the hearing was quickly adjourned and an out-of-court settlement was reached at the end of the month.

Denmark

The Danish version has been criticised by Danish music contract expert and consultant for The Danish Musicians' Association (Dansk Musiker Forbund) Mikael Højris. According to Højris, the contracts for participation in the show are unfair for participants and almost amount to serfdom to DR1 (the channel airing the show) stating that clauses in the contracts forbid the participants — whether they pass the first round or not — from performing or participating in any other musical event for three months. He also criticises that participants are obliged to travel at their own expense.

United Kingdom

Main article: Controversy and criticism of The X Factor (UK)

United States

• During week 7 of the live shows during the first season, judge Nicole Scherzinger could not decide which act to send home between contestants Rachel Crow and Marcus Canty. Scherzinger sent the vote to deadlock to let America's votes determine who would be eliminated. Crow was eliminated, shocking Crow, Scherzinger, and fans. Scherzinger was booed off the stage at the end of the show with many calling for her to be fired and subsequently received death threats from some viewers. It is speculated that this is the main reason for Scherzinger's dismissal as a judge following the season ending.

• In the second season premiere, Don Philip, someone who once collaborated with Britney Spears, auditioned in front of the judges, and received a "no" from all judges. He then told Access Hollywood that ten minutes of footage from the interview was cut as he says he felt bullied into revealing he was gay. Spears reportedly replied "It is fine that you are gay," though that was edited out as well. Those at Fox then released a statement saying, "The judges were not given any information at all about Mr. Philip prior to his audition."

Celebrity versions

On May 29, 2006, ITV broadcast a celebrity version of The X Factor in the UK called The X Factor: Battle of the Stars. It was hosted by Kate Thornton and judged by Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh. It was won by Lucy Benjamin. There has also been a celebrity version in Colombia, El factor X: Batalla de las Estrellas, broadcast in 2006.

See also

• List of reality television show franchises
• List of television show franchises