The X Factor reality talent competition was created in 2004 by former Pop Idol and American Idol judge Simon Cowell. The X Factor made its series debut in the U.K. on September 4, 2004 with judges Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, and Westlife and Boyzone manager Louis Walsh.
Singer and actress Dannii Minogue joined The X Factor U.K. as a judge in Season 4 before former Girls Aloud member Cheryl Cole took over for Sharon Osbourne who departed the show in Season 5. Journalist and TV personality Kate Thornton hosted The X Factor U.K. until Season 3 before Dermot O’Leary of Big Brother stepped in as her replacement. For Season 8 of the series, The X Factor U.K judge’s panel consisted of Louis Walsh, former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland, singer Tulisa Contostavlos and singer Gary Barlow of Take That.
Winners of The X Factor U.K. include Steve Brookstein, Shayne Ward, Leona Lewis, Leon Jackson, Alexandra Burke, Joe McElderry and Matt Cardle.
Following Season 7 of The X Factor, Simon Cowell left the highly successful U.K. series to create the American version of The X Factor, which made its debut on Fox on September 21, 2011. Prior to the show’s debut in the United States, Simon Cowell originally hired Cheryl Cole to serve as a judge on The X Factor U.S.. However, not long after Cheryl Cole was hired for the American X Factor, Cole was suddenly let go in a media storm of controversy amid rumors that her British accent was too thick.
The final judge’s panel for Season 1 of The X Factor U.S. consisted of Simon Cowell, former American Idol judge Paula Abdul, record executive L.A. Reid, and singer Nicole Scherzinger, who replaced Cheryl Cole. Steve Jones of T4 fame was named host of Season 1 of The X Factor U.S..
Britney Spears has officially left The X Factor after the pop star released an official statement confirming her exit from the Fox singing competition. Following earlier rumors that indicated Spears would not be back as a judge on The X Factor, Britney released a statement to say that she’s leaving read more
It appears that Britney Spears may soon be let go from The X Factor after serving only one season behind the judge’s table on the Fox singing competition. Although Britney Spears is still an X Factor judge for the moment, US Weekly reveals that Britney will soon be let go read more
Country singer Tate Stevens won The X Factor Season 2 on Thursday, beating 13-year old finalist Carly Rose Sonenclar and the all-girl group Fifth Harmony. Although Tate Stevens was named the second season winner of The X Factor, the 37-year old singer from Belton, Missouri fought his way through the read more
The X Factor ended its second season on Fox in country style on Thursday night when Tate Stevens was named the winner of a $5 million recording contract. It was a two-hour X Factor finale filled with celebrity performers and surprises as Pitbill and One Direction set the festive tone read more
The Top 3 finalists on The X Factor returned to Fox on Wednesday night to perform three songs each before a second season winner is named on Thursday. After weeks of preparation for The X Factor finale, it all came down to three song choices for Fifth Harmony, Tate Stevens, read more
When The X Factor returns to Fox this week to announce a second season winner, it’s hard to say that any of the final three singers will be losers. On Wednesday night’s finale of The X Factor, either Carly Rose Sonenclar, Tate Stevens, or Fifth Harmony will walk away with read more
Epic Records CEO L.A. Reid recently announced his departure from The X Factor after two seasons as judge and mentor on the popular Fox singing competition. The departure of L.A. Reid will undoubtedly cause a major shakeup on The X Factor, especially when it comes to professional experience since Simon read more
The X Factor narrowed the final singers to the Top 3 during Thursday’s night elimination episode on Fox ahead of next week’s second season finale. Carly Rose Sonenclar, Fifth Harmony, Emblem3, and Tate Stevens endured countless hours of rehearsals and make-or-break performances on the way to becoming the Top 4 read more
The X Factor returned to the Fox airwaves on Wednesday night as the Top 4 remaining singers performed two songs each ahead of next week’s season finale. After a grueling four months on The X Factor, with so much on the line, Tate Stevens, Carly Rose Sonenclar, Emblem 3, and read more
The X Factor returned for another double elimination on Thursday that sent two of the remaining Top 6 singers home ahead of next week’s semi-final episode. To open the show on Thursday night, first season winner, Melanie Amaro, hit the stage to sing her new single “Long Distance” from her read more
The X Factor returned to Fox for another double elimination on Thursday that sent two of the remaining Top 8 singers home in the final week of November. The first elimination came without warning. Paige Thomas was the first to go. Although the judges were shocked by the results, Paige read more
The X Factor returned to the Fox airwaves on Wednesday night as the Top 8 singers performed #1 chart topping hits ahead of the next round of eliminations. Although it was all about the Top 8 and #1 hits on Wednesday, Will.i.am and Britney Spears debuted their new video for read more
