The judges visit Leeds and London for the first audions round. Amongst the thousands of contestants who tried out were: Retired miner Mario, sisterly duos Sweet Harmony and Gemini, rapper ginger Benjamin (who got on the wrong side of Sharon by insulting her kids!) & 81 year old Reney!
The judges visit Newcastle. Two rivalry bands both get through to the next round. A girl tries out with her two best friends, only to be told by Simon that she has to ditch them if she wants to go any further. After a heart-to-heart with her friends, the girl tries out in front of the judges on her own. Louis gets re-acquainted with an old friend. Simon suggests that Louis take her out, then when she turns up for their lunch date with her dog, Louis runs away from Simon and out of the back door.
The judges visit Scotland. The talent is very poor and the success rate of getting through to the next round is very low. The judges aren't very pleased. Sharon, annoyed at Simon, pours two glasses of water over his head.
The judges get together a team to help them mentor their group of hopefuls.
The show returns for it's fourth series with Dermot O'Leary as the new host. Hopefuls audition for the judges hoping to impress and make it through to the next stage of the competition. Simon decides that new judge Brian isn't working out on the show and decides to ask Louis Walsh to return as his replacement.
The auditions come from Birmingham and Cardiff as more hopefully try and impress the judges. Paris who at 14 last year impressed all the judges but was too young for the competition returns once again. With the competiton now open to 14 year olds and above she manages to impress again and makes it through. Others to impress include Ryan who has been serving in the British Army in Iraq.
More hopefuls good and bad try and impress the four judges in a hope of making it through to the next round of the competition. Dermot is on hand to talk to those who make it through and also to offer comfort to the less successful.
More hopefuls good and bad try and impress the judges and again a place in the next round of the competition. Kelly's father is upset with Simon when he refuses to put his daughter through to the next round. Natasha Benjamin manages to impress all the judges after they hear her history and they her her sing.
The 10 remaining acts return to perform live for the third time. This week each act has to perform a Big Band song. The judges give their verdicts on what they have heard. At the end of the show the phone lines are opened for this week's public vote.
The finalists performed a cover version of the Mariah Carey song "Hero" on behalf of the Help for Heroes charity. This song will be released as a download on Sunday 26 as a download and Monday 27 physically.
Down to nine acts and the contestants must sing again for a place in next week's show. This week they must sing classic disco songs for the judges and the viewers at home. The viewers will then vote for their favourite and the two acts with the lowest number of votes will be forced to sing again for the judges who will then decide to save one act.
Theme: Disco Celebrity Guest: Will Young Song performed by celebrity guest: Changes
Dermot O'Leary hosts the fifth live show of the series. This week, the eight remaining acts meet Mariah Carey and must perform her songs for the judges and the viewers. The viewers will then vote for their favourite and the two acts with the lowest number of votes will sing again for the judges who will choose to save one act and send the other home.
Theme: Mariah Carey Celebrity Guest: Mariah Carey Song performed by celebrity guest: TBA
Theme: Best of British
Celebrity Guest: Leona Lewis Song performed by celebrity guest: "Run"
Five acts remain in the competition and the acts must now perform 2 songs each. This week the theme is American Classics as the contestants perform for the viewers' votes. The two acts with the lowest number of votes must then sing again for the judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue. Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus appears in this episode.
Theme: Songs by Britney Spears and American Classics Song performed by celebrity guests: "Womanizer" (Britney Spears), "7 Things" (Miley Cyrus)
With only four acts remaining in the competition, we reach the 9th live show of the series. The contestants must each perform 2 songs for the viewers' votes. The 2 acts with the lowest number of votes will have to sing again judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue who, for the last time, will choose an act to send home.
There are only three acts remaining in this week's grand final. After auditions, boot camp, the mentors' houses and nine live shows, the three acts remaining in the competition sing for one last time for the audience vote. The act with the highest number of votes will be crowned The X Factor champion of 2008 winning a £1m recording contract with Simon Cowell. Dannii Minogue is the only judge with no acts left in the competition.
Britain's biggest talent show returns for a brand new series. Judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh sift through a record-breaking number of applicants, who this year must audition in front of a studio audience and the panel. The heats start in London, before moving on to Manchester and Glasgow. Watch out for Simon and Louis falling out over a pair of Irish twins. Plus, who gives what Simon describes as 'the best first audition I have ever heard'? Dermot O'Leary hosts.
Britain's biggest talent show rolls into Birmingham for auditions along with judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh and now of course, a live audience. It is Cheryl's birthday - but will it be a day to celebrate? A 22-year-old fellow Geordie girl certainly does tug at Cheryl's heart strings. And the clock is ticking for an ageing Brummie rocker still dreaming of stardom.
The auditions for Britain's biggest talent competition continue, as more wannabe popstars perform in front of the studio audience and judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole. As they think ahead to the mentoring stage, all the judges will be hoping for some amazing singers with real star quality. Meanwhile host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to celebrate or commiserate with the contestants.
Britain's biggest and best open talent competition continues with some more good, bad and unbelievable auditions from across the country. The wannabes will be performing in front of a studio audience and the panel, so they must bring an iron nerve. Who will impress judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh? Host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to celebrate success or mop up the tears.
With only two more auditions to go before the bootcamp stage and the assignment of the categories, judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole continue the nationwide search for a star. Host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to celebrate success or console those who are sent home.
It is the last leg of this year's auditions, and we will see the final group of hopefuls from the record number who applied. Judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh are on a whistle stop tour of Britain to find any other potential winners out there. The wannabes must perform in front of the judges and a large studio audience, so they will need a strong constitution. But host Dermot O'Leary will be there to offer a shoulder to cry on if they need it. Who will make it through?
The successful auditionees head to London's Hammersmith Apollo for the biggest bootcamp ever. Judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole will be putting 200 acts through their paces. Who will be able to handle the pressure and stand out from the crowd, and who will be heading home? After this first challenge, only 50 acts can go through to the next bootcamp stage. Host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to offer condolences to the unlucky and celebrate with the chosen few.
Join host Dermot O'Leary for the second in our bootcamp weekend double bill. The 50 remaining acts must perform again in front of an audience of thousands. Each singer has been able to practise overnight, and today is their last chance to impress judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh. The panel must now start choosing the performers they believe can go all the way. Who will make it into the final 24?
The X Factor goes global, as the 24 remaining acts jet off around the world to the judges' houses. Simon is at his home in Los Angeles, while Cheryl is in Marrakech, Louis is in Italy and Dannii is in Dubai. The judges are joined by Kylie Minogue, Will Young, Ronan Keating and Sinitta, who will be helping them make the tough decisions needed to whittle down the contestants to the final 12. Host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to support the singers as they face their biggest performance so far.
It is make or break time for the 24 remaining hopefuls - at the end of today's show they will find out whether they have been chosen for the live stages. There are only three places in each category, so judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh have some big decisions to make. Host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to support the contestants.
It's the moment of truth for the final 12 as they perform live in front of the nation... with the first of two live shows as the final 12 sing live - and the judges each mentor one category of singers. Simon Cowell has the over 25s, Cheryl Cole has the boys, Dannii Minogue has the girls and Louis Walsh has the groups. Host Dermot O'Leary will be on hand to deal with the war of words as the judges give their views on each performance and defend their acts - one of which will leave the competition.
It's a brand new live Sunday night results show as the final 12 discover the outcome of the public vote. The two acts with the lowest number of votes will sing for survival in the final showdown. Then it is up to the judges to decide who stays to sing another day and who is out of the competition. Last year's winner Alexandra Burke gives the first performance of her new single - and in a world exclusive Robbie Williams is back performing live!
Watch all 11 acts strut their stuff as they make their claim to The X Factor throne. Tonight the competition really hots up, and Whitney Houston is a special guest tomorrow night. Louis Walsh will be absent from both shows as he attends Stephen Gately's funeral in Dublin.
Join host Dermot O'Leary live as the 11 remaining acts find out the results of the public vote. The two acts with the lowest number of votes must sing for survival in the final showdown. Then it is up to the judges to decide who stays to sing another day and who leaves the competition. Plus the legendary Whitney Houston performs live, in her first UK TV appearance in 12 years.
The 10 remaining acts battle it out to win the public's votes and stay in the competition. Today's theme is Big Band, which means the contestants must face the challenge of singing with a full orchestra. How will they get on? Judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh will be keen to support the acts they are mentoring, and host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to keep everyone going as the tension mounts.
Join Dermot O'Leary live for the results of the public vote. The two acts with the lowest number of votes must perform again in the final showdown. Then judges Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue, Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole will decide who stays to sing another day and who leaves the competition. Plus Michael Bublé and Westlife are live on stage.
All the performances and much more from The X Factor's very first Rock week.
Dermot O'Leary hosts the all-new Sunday night X Factor results show, as the nine acts find out the results of the public vote. The two with the lowest number of votes will sing for survival in the final showdown, then it is up to the judges to decide who stays to sing another day and who leaves the competition. Plus Bon Jovi and JLS perform.
The battle for the crown continues as the eight remaining acts step onto Britain's biggest stage for the fifth live show. Each of the performers will be hoping to impress the voting audience at home as well as judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh. Host Dermot O'Leary will be on hand to deal with the war of words as the judges give their views on each performance and defend their singers. Next time, one act will be leaving the competition.
Dermot O'Leary hosts the live results show. The remaining performers will be on tenterhooks as the results of the public vote are revealed, as the two acts with the lowest number of votes must sing for their survival in the final showdown. Who will judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh choose to send home? Plus performance from Leona Lewis and the Black Eyed Peas.
Only seven acts remain and the competition will be getting fiercer than ever as the performers battle it out to stay in the running. Judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh will be on the edges of their seats as they support the singers they are mentoring, while host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to deal with all the tears and triumphs. Who will impress the judges - and the voting public - today?
It is time for the seven remaining acts to find out the result of the public vote. The two acts with the lowest numbers of votes must sing for survival in the final showdown. Then judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh will decide who stays in the competition and who is sent home. Plus there is a guest performance by Colombian pop superstar Shakira. Hosted by Dermot O'Leary.
There are only six acts remaining in the competition, and today they must sing live again in a battle to win the biggest prize in pop. Also fighting it out are judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh, who are each mentoring one category of singers. Host Dermot O'Leary will be on hand to deal with all the tears and triumphs.
It is time to reveal the results of the public vote. The two acts with the fewest votes will have to perform again in a sing-off, and then it is up to the judges to decide who stays in the competition and who is eliminated. Plus there are live performances from Mariah Carey and Susan Boyle. Hosted by Dermot O'Leary.
It is the eighth live show, and with only five acts remaining, the pressure is really on to make an impression on both the judges and the voters at home. Panellists Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh will be rooting for the performers in their categories, while host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to deal with all the tears and triumphs.
Dermot O'Leary reveals the results of the latest public vote. The two acts with the fewest votes must take part in a sing-off, and then judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole decide who stays to compete in the quarter-finals, and who must leave for good. Also featuring live performances from Rihanna and Alicia Keys.
Dermot O'Leary hosts the semi-finals. The four remaining acts - Danyl, Joe, Olly and Stacey - must perform two songs each, and it will be up to them to really sing their hearts out if they are to be in with a chance of making it to next week's final. Judges Cheryl Cole, Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh will be crossing their fingers for their favoured acts. Who will impress the panel and the voters at home?
Lady Gaga and Janet Jackson perform in tonight's show, as Dermot O'Leary reveals which performers will have to fight for survival in a sing-off. The bottom two acts will face the judges again, and one will be eliminated, losing their chance of competing in next week's final. Who is going home today?
It is the final! Hundreds of thousands of hopefuls came to the nationwide auditions, but now only three acts remain to battle it out for the title - and one will be going home today. At stake is the biggest prize in pop - a life-changing record contract and the release of their debut single. Judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh are also joining in the race to the finish line, as they cross their fingers for their own acts. Plus some amazing international guest stars will be appearing. Hosted by Dermot O'Leary.
Now the moment the nation has been waiting for arrives, as Dermot O'Leary reveals who the public has crowned 2009 X Factor champion. Joining Dermot and the remaining two acts are judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh, as well as more international guest stars. The final two acts each perform what will become the winner's first single. Then at last the suspense is over and we discover which act has taken the prize.
