The X Factor: A complete history of the show
The TV talent show last aired in 2018
Last updated 29th Jul 2021
With the news that The X Factor is on an indefinite hiatus, we've decided to look back on the last 15 series, from the winners, the judges, the presenters, and of course, the best bits from the ITV show.
As the dust settles following the news that ITV have "no plans" for future series of the show, there's no denying the fact this show has brought us some AMAZING talent and entertainment since 2004.
Check out the history of The X Factor below...
When did The X Factor first start?
The X Factor first aired on ITV in September 2004, with the show being produced by FremantleMedia's Thames and Simon Cowell's production company Syco Entertainment.
After a number of changes in judges, presenters and the overall format of the competition, it was announced in 2018 that the show would be taking a break.
Who has won The X Factor?
To date there has been an incredible 15 winners of The X Factor! They are:
Steve Brookstein - 2004
Shayne Ward - 2005
Leona Lewis - 2006
Leon Jackson - 2007
Alexandra Burke - 2008
Joe McElderry - 2009
Matt Cardle - 2010
Little Mix - 2011
James Arthur - 2012
Sam Bailey - 2013
Ben Haenow - 2014
Louisa Johnson - 2015
Matt Terry - 2016
Rak-Su - 2017
Dalton Harris - 2018
The X Factor winners' singles
All 15 winners of The X Factor have released winners' singles, some more successful than others, with a lot going on to take the all-important Christmas Number 1 spot.
2004: Steve Brookstein - 'Against All Odds' (Over 25s)
Steve Brookstein's winning single debuted at Number 2 in the UK charts behind Band Aid 20's 'Do They Know It's Christmas', the following week it went to Number 1.
2005: Shayne Ward - 'That's My Goal' (16–24s)
Shayne Ward was the second winner of the competition and released an original song - whereas most winners released the covers. 'That's My Goal' became the fastest-selling song of 2005!
2006: Leona Lewis - 'A Moment Like This' (16–24s)
According to reports, 1 million copies of the single were pre-ordered by stores and it was downloaded 50,000 times within 30 minutes of being available online! It reached Number 1 in both the UK singles and download charts.
2007: Leon Jackson - 'When You Believe' (Boys)
The single was another successful winners' single getting to Number 1 in the UK and becoming a Christmas Number 1.
2008: Alexandra Burke - 'Hallelujah' (Girls)
Alexandra's 'Hallelujah' became a Christmas Number 1 for the fifth X Factor winner.
2009: Joe McElderry - 'The Climb' (Boys)
After winning the competition, Joe McElderry's version of 'The Climb' went to Number 1 in the UK. The song was a cover of the Miley Cyrus song which was also released in the same year and featured in Hannah Montana: The Movie.
2010: Matt Cardle - 'When We Collide' (Boys)
Matt Cardle won the seventh series of The X Factor and released his cover of 'When We Collide' (original title - 'Many of Horror'). The song reached Number 1 in the UK and became the second bestselling single of 2010.
2011: Little Mix - 'Cannonball' (Groups)
They might be releasing Number 1 songs here, there and everywhere, but back in 2011 Little Mix won The X Factor and released 'Cannonball'. Unlike past winner's singles, the song wasn't released during the week of the popular Christmas Number 1 battle. The song debuted at Number 1 becoming the fastest-selling single of the year.
2012: James Arthur - 'Impossible' (Boys)
James Arthur's cover of 'Impossible' was released immediately after he won the ninth series of The X Factor. The single became the fastest-selling winning single from The X Factor!
2013: Sam Bailey - 'Skyscraper' (Over 25s)
'Skyscraper', originally sung by Demi Lovato was released by 2013's X Factor winner, Sam Bailey. The song became a Christmas Number 1 with all proceeds from the single going to Great Ormond Street Hospital and Together for Short Lives.
2014: Ben Haenow - 'Something I Need' (Over 25s)
Once again The X Factor winner hit the top spot for Christmas in 2014.
2015: Louisa Johnson - 'Forever Young' (Girls)
Louisa Johnson released her version of 'Forever Young' however, unlike many of the previous winners' singles it didn't make the top spot, only reaching Number 9 in the UK.
2016: Matt Terry - 'When Christmas Comes Around' (Boys)
Written by none-other than Ed Sheeran and Amy Wadge, 'When Christmas Comes Around' was The X Factor's second ever original song to be released as the winner's single. It debuted at Number 3 in the UK.
2017: Rak-Su - 'Dimelo' (Groups)
'Dimelo' was yet another original single to be released as an X Factor winners' single. It reached Number 2 in the UK, being kept off the top spot by Ed Sheeran's 'Perfect'.
2018: Dalton Harris featuring James Arthur - 'The Power of Love'
Who has been a judge on The X Factor?
Since The X Factor first started in 2004, the show has had a massive 15 different judges.
The original panel was made up of Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne, before the likes of Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Tweedy and Gary Barlow took over, with even more changes coming later down the line.
See the full list of X Factor judges below:
Simon Cowell: 2004-2010, 2014-2018
Sharon Osbourne: 2004-2007, 2014, 2016-2017
Louis Walsh: 2004-2014, 2016-2017
Dannii Minogue: 2007-2010
Cheryl Tweedy: 2008-2010, 2014-2015
Gary Barlow: 2011-2013
Kelly Rowland: 2011
Tulisa: 2011-2012
Nicole Scherzinger: 2012-2013, 2016-2017
Mel B: 2014
Nick Grimshaw: 2015
Rita Ora: 2015
Ayda Field: 2018
Robbie WIlliams: 2018
Louis Tomlinson: 2018
Who has presented The X Factor?
The X Factor has had a number of different presenters over its 15 year series, but most popular is perhaps the legend that is Mr Dermot O'Leary.
Series one-three were presented by Kate Thornton.
Dermot O'Leary then took over the show in 2007, presenting for six years before announcing he was quitting in 2015.
Caroline Flack and Olly Murs took over for the 2015 series, before Dermot announced his return just one year later, presenting the show for the final two series.
When is The X Factor coming back?
2020 was the first year in more than 15 years that The X Factor did not grace our TV screens! After a number of spin-off series in 2019, head judge Simon Cowell made the decision to give the show a break.
He said in 2019, "I thought, since it is 2020, a new decade, we have to rest it for a year. "We have to come back with a show that is relevant, different, a show that takes into account all the different things kids are watching and being influenced by."
ITV then confirmed in July 2021 that there are "no plans" to bring The X Factor back any time soon - and besides, Simon Cowell now has Walk The Line in the pipeline, a brand new ITV talent show.
Which artists found fame on The X Factor?
Although the likes of Leona Lewis, James Arthur, Little Mix and Shayne Ward all won The X Factor and went on to enjoy MASSIVE careers, there's also a lot of other artists who have appeared on the show, that went on to become major superstars.
One Direction, one of the most successful bands on the planet, actually finished in third place back in 2010. After Zayn Malik left the band in 2015, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Niall Horan and Louis Tomlinson all went onto amazing solo success.
During the same year, Cher Lloyd finished in fourth place, but she still went on to sign a record deal with Syco Music, seeing success in both the UK and the USA.
Another boy band to appear on The X Factor but not win the show was JLS! Marvin, Aston, JB and Oritsé finished in second place behind Alexandra Burke in 2008. After a number of successful years, the boys went on a hiatus to focus on their solo carers, before reuniting in 2020.
Believe it or not, Olly Murs also didn't win the show, finishing in second place behind Geordie lad Joe McElderry in 2009. Olly has since become one of the most successful male artists in the UK, enjoying Number 1 singles, albums and sold-out tours. As if that wasn't enough, he also returned to the show to host in 2015, and is now a coach on The Voice UK.
Fleur East was pipped to the top spot by Ben Haenow in 2014, but with hits such as 'Sax', 'Favourite Thing', and 'Lucky', and an appearance on I'm A Celebrity, Fleur has gone on to enjoy a great career!
The X Factor spin-off shows
As well as the amazing main show, The X Factor has also enjoyed a number of great spin-off shows over the years.
The Xtra Factor
Perhaps the most successful and most memorable X Factor spin-off show was The Xtra Factor, which aired on ITV2 between 2004-2016 alongside the main show on Saturday and Sunday nights.
The series had a number of different presenters throughout the years, including Ben Shephard, Fearne Cotton, Holly Willoughby, Konnie Huq, Caroline Flack and Olly Murs, Sarah-Jane Crawford, Rochelle Humes and Melvin Odoom, and lastly Rylan Clark-Neal and Matt Richardson.
The Xtra Factor was very popular with viewers, showing behind the scenes footage from all different stages of the competition, as well as backstage interviews with the judges and fun games with celebrity guests.
In 2017, ITV announced an online show would replace The Xtra Factor after 13 years.
The X Factor: Celebrity
In 2019, Simon Cowell announced a revamped version of 2006 show The X Factor: Battle of the Stars, which featured well-known celebrities showing off their singing careers.
Hosted by Dermot O'Leary, usual faces Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh were on the judging panel as celebs such as Vinnie Jones, Jenny Ryan, Martin Bashir, Kevin McHale and Ricki Lake all took part.
But it was TOWIE star Megan McKenna who won the show, landing a record deal after picking up 46.3% of the vote.
The X Factor: The Band
As well as The X Factor: Celebrity, 2019 also saw the launch of another X Factor spin-off show, The X Factor: The Band.
Airing in December 2019, the show was a replacement for the preciously announced The X Factor: All Stars, and featured solo artists auditioning for a place in a boy band and a girl band.
Dermot O'Leary once again hosted the show, with Leona Lewis joining both Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger on the judging panel.
With just four episodes in the entire series, girl band Real Like You were crowned the winners ahead of boy band Unwritten Rule, with their winners' single 'Be Like Them'.
When did Louis Walsh quit The X Factor?
After a massive 13 years on the show, it was announced in 2018 that veteran judge Louis Walsh would be leaving The X Factor.
Speaking about his decision to leave the show he said, "I've had a fantastic 13 years on The X Factor but the show needs a change and I'm ready to leave."
What channel is The X Factor on?
All 15 series of The X Factor aired on ITV.
How can I apply to be on The X Factor?
As the show is taking a break right now, no auditions are open.
How many acts have won The X Factor?
To date, a massive 15 different people have won The X Factor. From Steve Brookstein back in 2004, to the likes of Alexandra Burke, Joe McElderry, Matt Cardle and Little Mix, the show has produced some incredible talent.
Who is the most successful winner of The X Factor?
It's very hard to establish who is the most successful winner of The X Factor, as a huge majority of them have enjoyed success in their own ways. In terms of the winning single's popularity, series two winner Shayne Ward is the most successful X Factor winner to date, and he also went on to appear in Coronation Street.
But the likes of Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke and James Arthur have also enjoyed incredible success since appearing on the show.
And of course we can't forget about Little Mix! After becoming the first ever group to win the show in 2011, they've gone on to achieve worldwide success, with a number of sold-out tours, Number 1 singles and major advertising deals.
Read more:
Little Mix: Get to know the nation's biggest girl band
Olly Murs: Who is the 'Moves' hitmaker?
One Direction reunion: All of the signs so far