For the original UK version, see The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a television music talent show franchise originating in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for the massively successful Pop Idol. The competitions, now held in various countries, are contested by aspiring pop singers, and talent filled aspiring performers drawn from public auditions. 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 format creator is Simon Cowell who also judges and mentors on the UK series. The show is responsible for the launch of Leona Lewis, who has since gone on to achieve worldwide success.
| Region/country | Local title | Network | Series and winners | Judges | Presenters | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | The X Factor | Network Ten | Series 1, 2005 | Mark Holden(Series 1-present) Kate Ceberano(Series 1-present) John Reid(Series 1-present) | Daniel MacPherson Julia Zemiro | ||||
| Belgium | X Factor | VTM | Series 1, 2005 Udo Mechels | Kris Wauters Jean Blaute (Series 1) Liliane Saint-Pierre (Series 1) Do (Series 2) Maurice Engelen (Series 2) | Koen Wauters (Series 1) Hadise (Series 2) | ||||
| rowspan=3 | Colombia | El Factor X | rowspan=3 | RCN TV | Series 1, 2005 Julio César Meza Francisco Villareal | rowspan=3 | Marbelle Juan Carlos Coronel José Gaviria Wilfrido Vargas (El Factor Xs series 2) | rowspan=3 | Andrea Serna |
| El Factor X: Batalla de Estrellas | Series 1, 2006 Luz Amparo Alvarez | ||||||||
| El Factor Xs | Series 1, 2006 | ||||||||
| Czech Republic | X Factor Official website | TV Nova | Series 1, 2008: Jiří Zonyga, "George" | Gábina Osvaldová Ondřej Soukup Petr Janda | Leoš Mareš | ||||
| Denmark | X Factor | DR | Series 1, 2008: Martin Hoberg HedegaardSeries 2, 2009: Current series | Remee Lina Rafn Thomas Blachman | Lise Rønne | ||||
| Greece | The X Factor Official website | ANT1 | Series 1, 2008-2009: Loukas Giorkas | George Levendis Giorgos Theofanous Katerina Gagaki Nikos Mouratidis | Sakis Rouvas | ||||
| Iceland | The X Factor Official website | Stöð 2 | Series 1, 2006 Jógvan Hansen | Einar Bárðarson Elínborg Halldórsdóttir Páll Óskar Hjálmtýsson | Halla Vilhjálmsdóttir | ||||
| India | Fame X Academy | SAB TV | Series 1, 2006: Rehaan Khan | Sophie Choudhary Shilpa Saklani | |||||
| Italy | X Factor Official website | Rai Due | Series 1, 2008: Aram Quartet Series 2, 2009: Current season | Mara Maionchi Morgan Simona Ventura | Francesco Facchinetti | ||||
| Kazakhstan | The X Factor | Series 1, 2006: | |||||||
| rowspan=2 | Morocco | Le Facteur X | rowspan=2 | 2M TV | Series 1, 2006 | ||||
| Studio 2M | Series 1, 2007 | ||||||||
| Netherlands | X Factor Official website | RTL 4 | Series 1, 2006-07 Sharon Kips | Stacey Rookhuizen (2008 – present) Angela Groothuizen (2008 – present) Gordon Heuckeroth (2008 – present) Eric van Tijn (2008 – present) Henkjan Smits (2006 – 2007) Marianne van Wijnkoop (2006 – 2007) Henk Temming (2006 – 2007) | Wendy van Dijk (2006 – present) Martijn Krabbe (2008 – present) | ||||
| Norway | |||||||||
| Russia | Секрет Успеха Official website | RTR | Series 1, 2005 Vladimir Sapovskiy | Valeriy Meladze Katerina Von Gechmen-Valdek Aleksandr Revzin | Aleksey Chumakov Elena Vorobey | ||||
| Saudi Arabia | The X Factor, XSeer Al Najah Official website | Rotana TV | Series 1, 2006 Rajaa Kasbani | Khaled Micheal Elefteriades Anoshka | Joelle Rahme | ||||
| Spain | Factor X Official website | Cuatro | Series 1, 2007 María Villalón | Miqui Puig Eva Perales Jorge Flo | Núria Roca | ||||
| Sweden | |||||||||
| Turkey | |||||||||
| rowspan=2 | United Kingdom | The X Factor Official website | rowspan=2 | ITV1 ITV2 STV UTV TV3 Ireland | Series 1, 2004 Steve Brookstein Upcoming | Rowspan=2 | Simon Cowell (2004 – present) Louis Walsh (2004 – present) Dannii Minogue (2007 – present) Cheryl Cole (2008 – present) Sharon Osbourne (2004 – 2007) Brian Friedman (2007 auditions) Paula Abdul (2006 auditions) | rowspan=3 | Kate Thornton (2004 – 2006) Dermot O'Leary (2007 – present) Ben Shephard (2004-2006) Fearne Cotton (2007) Holly Willoughby (2008) Zöe Salmon (2009 - present) |
| The X Factor: Battle of the Stars | Series 1, 2006 |
As part of Simon Cowell's deal to remain on American Idol, a US version of The X Factor cannot be produced.
Pop Idol creator Simon Fuller claimed 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.[1] A high court hearing began in London in November 2005, the outcome 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 a settlement was reached out of court at the end of the month.[2]
On 9 December 2006 the Daily Mirror revealed that Simon Cowell intends to launch a "Euro X Factor" within two years.[3] The show, if launched, would feature European countries staging their own X Factor contests, with a winner 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 one act 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 world's biggest talent competition.
The Danish version of The X Factor has been criticized 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 the fact that participants are obliged to travel at their own expense to any location the programme requires them to be present at and that participants are not paid during their participation in the show, even if participating prevents them from attending a regular day job.[4]