The X Factor

This article is about the international television franchise. For the Iron Maiden album, see The X Factor (album). For the various national versions of the show and all other uses, see X Factor (disambiguation).

The X Factor
Created by
Original workThe X Factor (UK)
OwnersFremantle
Syco Entertainment
Years2004–present
Films and television
Television seriesThe X Factor (independent international versions, see below)
Miscellaneous
GenreMusic competition
First aired4 September 2004; 20 years ago (2004-09-04)
DistributorFremantle

The X Factor is a television music competition franchise created by British producer Simon Cowell and his company Syco Entertainment. It originated in the United Kingdom, where it was devised as a replacement for Pop Idol (2001–2003), and has been adapted in various countries. The "X Factor" of the title refers to the undefinable "something" that makes for star quality.[1]

Similar to Got Talent, the franchise maintains a YouTube channel, called X Factor Global. The channel uploads clips of X Factor shows from around the world. The channel currently has over 3 million subscribers. Additionally, many individual X Factor shows have their own YouTube channels such as X Factor Latvia.

The X Factor around the world

Location of different franchises of The X Factor
  Own version
  Joint version
  Regional version

There have been a total of 244 winners of The X Factor worldwide.

  Franchise that is currently airing
  Franchise that is not currently airing, but is slated to return in the future
  Franchise that has ended
  Franchise that was cancelled during production
  Franchise whose status is unknown

Country/Region Local title Network Hosts Judges Winner
Albania
Kosovo
North Macedonia 		X Factor TV Klan
  • Arab world
  •    Algeria
  •    Comoros
  •    Djibouti
  •    Egypt
  •    Iraq
  •    Jordan
  •    Kuwait
  •    Lebanon
  •    Libya
  •    Mauretania
  •    Morocco
  •    Oman
  •    Qatar
  •    Saudi Arabia
  •    Somalia
  •    Sudan
  •    Syria
  •    Tunisia
  •    United Arab Emirates
  •    Yemen
 The X Factor
سير النجاحX 		Current
Dubai TV / dmc Egypt (5–)
Former
Rotana (1–2)
CBC (3)
MBC1 (4)
  • Armenia
 ԻՔՍ–ՖԱԿՏՈՐ
X–Factor 		Shant TV
  • Season 1, 2010–11: Vrezh Kirakosyan
  • Season 2, 2012–13: Kim Grigoryan
  • Season 3, 2014: Vahé Margaryan
  • Season 4, 2016–17: Edgar Ghandilyan
Australia The X Factor Network Ten (1)
Seven Network (2–8)
  • Balkan countries
  •    Bosnia and Herzegovina
  •    Croatia
  •    Macedonia
  •    Montenegro
  •    Serbia
 X Factor Adria TV Sitel (1–2)
Federalna (1–2)
RTV Pink (1)
RTL Televizija (2)
Prva (2)
RTRS (2)
  • Ana Grubin (live shows, 1)
  • Bane Jevtić (Auditions, backstage, 1)
  • Snezana Velkov (Auditions, backstage, 1)
  • Una Senić (X Star, judges' houses, 1)
  • Antonija Blaće (selection process, live shows, 2)
  • Aleksandar Radojičić (selection process, live shows, 2)
  • Nikolina Pišek (backstage, 2)
Belarus Current
Factor BY (2–)
Former
X Factor Belarus[2] (1) 		Belteleradiocompany
  • Vladimir Bogdan
  • Marianna Murenkova
  • 2020: Cancelled[a]
  • Season 1, 2021: Andrey Panisov [b]
  • Season 2, 2022–2023: Ivan Dyatlov
  • Season 3, 2023–2024: Danyil Savenia
  • Season 4, 2024–2025: Current season
Belgium X Factor vtm
Bolivia Factor X Bolivia Red Uno
  • Carlos Rocabado
  • Ximena Zalzer
  • Season 1, 2018: Juan Lovera
  • Season 2, 2019: DÚO MÍA
Brazil X Factor Band
Website
TNT
Bulgaria X Factor Nova TV
Website
  • Deo (1)
  • Maria Ignatova (2–5)
  • Alexandra Raeva (2–5)
Cambodia X Factor Cambodia Hangmeas
Website
  • Chea Vibol
  • Chan Keonimol
  • Season 1, 2019: Chan Sopanha
Chile Factor X TVN
Website
China The X Factor: 激情唱响
The X Factor: Passionate Singer (1)
The X Factor: 中国最强音
The X Factor: China's Strongest Voice (2) 		Liaoning TV (1)
HBS:Hunan TV (2)
  • Da Zuo (1)
  • Shao Wenjie (1)
  • Zhu Dan (2)
  • He Jiong (2)
  • Season 1, 2011: Li Shangshang
  • Season 2, 2012: Chen Yumeng
Colombia El Factor X
The X Factor 		RCN TV
Website
El Factor X: Batalla de las Estrellas
The X Factor: Battle of the Stars
  • Marbelle
  • José Gaviria
  • Juan Carlos Coronel
  • Season 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
El Factor X Familia
  • Season 1, 2015: Dúo Herencia
Czech Republic X Factor TV Nova
Website
Czech Republic
Slovakia 		X Factor Prima family
Website
TV JOJ
Website
Denmark X Factor Current
TV 2 (12–)
Former
DR (1–11)
  • Current
  • Maria Fantino (17–)
  • Former
  • Lise Rønne (1–2, 4–5, 14 Live Shows)
  • Signe Muusman (3)
  • Signe Molde (6)
  • Eva Harlou (7–8)
  • Sofie Linde Ingversen (9–16)
  • Joakim Ingversen (11 from 1st to 2nd live shows)
  • Melvin Kakooza (14 Bootcamp)
  • Emil Thorup (Xtra Factor, 6)
  • Thomas Skov (X Factor Backstage, 8)
  • Joakim Ingversen (Ultra Factor, 9–11)
  • Jacob Riising (Ultra Factor, 11)
  • Rasmus Brohave (Z Factor, 12)
Ecuador Factor X Kids Ecuador Ecuavisa
  • Ursula Strenge
  • Jorge Luis del Hierro (1)
  • Pamela Cortéz (1)
  • Maykel Cedeño (1)
  • Season 1, 2015: Celena Rosero
Finland X Factor MTV3
France X Factor W9 (1)
M6 (2)
RTL–TVI
  • Georgia
 X Factor Georgia
X ფაქტორი 		Rustavi 2 (1–4)
Imedi TV (5)
  • Gega Palavandishvili (1)
  • la Sukhitashvili (1)
  • Giorgi Kipshidze (2)
  • Ruska Makashvili (3–5)
  • Erekle Getsadze (3)
  • Vaniko Tarkhnishvili (4–5)
  • Season 1, 2014: Tornike Kipiani
  • Season 2, 2015: Giorgi Nakashidze
  • Season 3, 2016: Avto Abeslamidze
  • Season 4, 2017: Sandro Kurcxalidze
  • Season 5, 2018: Anri Guchmanidze
Germany X Factor VOX (1–3)
Sky 1 (4)
Greece
Cyprus 		The X Factor ANT1 (1–3)
Skai TV (4–5)
Sigma TV (4–5)
Open TV (6)
Omega (6)
Mega TV (7)
Alpha TV Cyprus (7)
  • Sakis Rouvas (1–5)
  • Despina Vandi (6)
  • Giorgos Lianos (auditions, 1–3)
  • Despina Kampouri (auditions, 1–2)
  • Maria Sinatsaki (auditions, 3)
  • Evangelia Aravani (backstage, 4–5)
  • Aris Makris (backstage, 6)
  • Andreas Georgiou (7)
  • Ilias Bogdanos (backstage, 7)
  • Katerina Lioliou (backstage, 7)
Hungary X-Faktor RTL
Website
Iceland X Factor Stöð 2
Website
India X Factor India Sony Entertainment TV
Website
Indonesia X Factor Indonesia RCTI
Website
  • Robby Purba
Iran Stage Manoto
  • Season 1, 2016: Amirhossein Eftekhari
  • Season 2, 2017: Alireza Saremi
Israel The X Factor ישראל
The X Factor Israel 		Channel 2 (1–2)
Reshet (1–2)
Reshet 13 (3–4)
Website
Italy X Factor Current
Sky Uno (5–)
TV8 (9–)
Website
Former
Rai 2 (1–4)
Japan X Factor Okinawa Japan Okinawa TV
Website
  • Season 1, 2013–14: Sky's the Limit
Kazakhstan X Factor Perviy Kanal Evraziya
Website
  • Current
  • Arnur Istybaev (2–6, 9 -)
  • Former
  • Adil Liyan (1)
  • Daniyar Dzumadilov (7–8)
  • Current
  • Nurbergen Makhambetov (5 from live–)
  • Eva Becher (6, 9-)
  • Dilnaz Akhmadieva (4–5, until live, 7, 9 -)
  • Former
  • Nagima Eskalieva (1-8)
  • Alexander Shevchenko (1–5)
  • Sultana Karazhigitova (1–2, until live)
  • Ismail Igіlmanov (2, from live)
  • Erlan Kokeev (3)
  • Anatoliy Tsoy (8)
  • Season 1, 2011: Dariya Gabdull
  • Season 2, 2012: Andrey Tikhonov
  • Season 3, 2013: Evgeniya Barysheva
  • Season 4, 2013: Kairat Kapanov
  • Season 5, 2014: Evgeny Vyblov
  • Season 6, 2015: Astana Kargabay
  • Season 7, 2018: Dilnura Birzhanova
  • Season 8, 2020–21: Bro
  • Season 9, 2022–23: Miras Erbolov
  • Season 10, 2023–24: Ulpan Zumabek
Latvia X Faktors TV3
Website
  • Season 1, 2017: Artūrs Gruzdiņš
  • Season 2, 2018: Kattie
  • Season 3, 2019: Elīna Gluzunova
  • Season 4, 2021: Grēta Grantiņa
  • Season 5, 2023: Emilija Bērziņa
Lithuania X Faktorius TV3
  • Current
  • Mindaugas Stasiulis (5–)
  • Mindaugas Rainys (5–)
  • Former
  • Marijonas Mikutavičius (1)
  • Martynas Starkus (2–4)
  • Season 1, 2012–13: Giedrė Vokietytė
  • Season 2, 2013–14: Žygimantas Gečas
  • Season 3, 2015–16: Monika Pundziūtė
  • Season 4, 2016–17: Iglė Bernotaitytė
  • Season 5, 2017–18: 120
  • Season 6, 2018–19: Good Time Boys
  • Season 7, 2019: Milda Martinkėnaitė
  • Season 8, 2021: Mando
  • Season 9, 2022: Spurr
  • Season 10, 2024: Current season
X Faktorius. Žvaigždės
X Factor. Stars
  • Mindaugas Stasiulis
  • Mindaugas Rainys
  • Season 1, 2020: Milita Daikerytė
Malta X Factor Malta TVM[7]
  • Current
  • Gianni Zammit (4–)
  • Former
  • Ben Camille (1–3)
Myanmar The X Factor Myanmar MRTV 4
  • Zaw Htet (1)
  • Hmu Thiha Thu (2)
  • Si Thu Lwin (1–2)
  • Nge Nge (1–2)
  • Eaint Chit (1)
  • Za War (1–2)
  • Zam Nuu (2)
Netherlands X Factor RTL 4
Website
  • Wendy van Dijk (1–4)
  • Martijn Krabbe (2–5)
  • Nathalie Bulters (Backstage, 3)
  • Eva Treurniet (Backstage, 3)
  • Lieke van Lexmond (Backstage, 4)
  • Ferry Doedens (Backstage, 5)
New Zealand The X Factor TV3
Website
Norway X Factor TV 2
  • Charlotte Thorstvedt (1)
  • Ravi (2)
  • Guri Solberg (2)
  • Peter Moi Brubresko (Xtra Factor)
  • Katarina Flatland (Xtra Factor)
Philippines The X Factor Philippines ABS–CBN
Poland X Factor TVN
Website
Portugal Factor X SIC
  • Sónia Tavares (1–2)
  • Paulo Junqueiro (1–2)
  • Paulo Ventura (1–2)
  • Miguel Guedes (2)
  • Season 1, 2013–14: Berg
  • Season 2, 2014: Kika Kardoso
Romania X Factor Antena 1
Website
  • Current
  • Mihai Morar (11–)
  • Former
  • Mihai Bendeac (8)
  • Vlad Dragulin (8)
  • Răzvan Simion (1–7, 9–10)
  • Dani Oțil (1–7, 9–10)
Russia Секрет успеха
Secret of Success (1–2)
Фактор А
The A Factor (3–5)
Главная сцена
The Main Stage (6–7) 		RTR (1–2)
Website
Russia 1 (3–7)
  • Season 1, 2005: Vladimir Sapovsky
  • Season 2, 2007: Nikolay Timokhin
  • Season 3, 2011: Sergei Savin
  • Season 4, 2012: Alexey Sulima
  • Season 5, 2013: Mali
  • Season 6, 2015: Sardor Milano
  • Season 7, 2015–16: Arseny Borodin
Slovenia X Faktor POP TV
  • Damjan Damjanovič
  • Jadranka Juras
  • Aleš Uranjek
  • Season 1, 2012: Demetra Malalan
South Africa The X Factor SA SABC 1
Website
  • Andile Ncube
  • Season 1, 2015: FOUR
Spain Factor X Cuatro (1–2)[8]
Telecinco (3–)
  • Xtra Factor
  • Nando Escribano (3)
Sweden X Factor TV4
Thailand The X Factor Thailand Workpoint TV
  • Season 1, 2017: Slow
Turkey X Factor: Star Işığı Kanal D
Website
  • Season 1, 2014: Cancelled[10]
Ukraine The X Factor STB
Website
United Kingdom (Original)2 The X Factor ITV
The X Factor: Battle of the Stars ITV
The X Factor: Celebrity
The X Factor: The Band
United States The X Factor Fox
El Factor X
The X Factor
(Spanish Kids version) 		MundoFox
  • Season 1, 2013: Los Tres Charritos
Uzbekistan X-Faktor Oʻzbekiston FTV
  • Nilufar Sotiboldiyeva
  • Current
  • Ibrohim Ahmedov
  • Lola
  • Shakhriyor Argonov (2–)
  • Munisa Rizaeva (2–)
  • Former
  • Ravshan Komilov (1)
  • Jasmin (1)
  • Season 1, 2023: Javlon Sapoyev
  • Season 2, 2024: Current Season
Vietnam The X Factor Vietnam
Nhân tố bí ẩn 		VTV3
  • Nguyên Khang (1)
  • Thu Thủy (1)
  • Thành Trung (2)
  • Gil Lê (2)
  • Season 1, 2014: Giang Hồng Ngọc
  • Season 2, 2016: Trần Minh Như
West Africa X Factor AIT, NTA,
STV, ViaSat,
WAP TV
  • Season 1, 2013: DJ Switch
Notes
  1. ^1 As a one-off judge replacing Prūsaitis
  2. ^2 Also shown in Republic of Ireland and in series 3, 4, 7 and 13 auditions were held in Dublin, and viewers in Ireland were allowed to vote. The UK version of The X Factor is also shown in Malta on channel TVM.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ X Factor Belarus was planned to start in 2020 with a final on 31 December 2020.[3] After completed pre-auditions in Hrodna, Mahilyow and Homiel, the production team behind X Factor Belarus had to cancel the auditions in Vitebsk in early April because of local COVID-19 pandemic regulations. On 4 April, the production team cancelled all further auditions and later announced there would be no more auditions until late May.[4] In July 2020, the Instagram account of X Factor Belarus asked auditionees for patience. Since then, any update on the future of the show lacks.[5]
  2. ^ X Factor Belarus was planned to start in 2020 with a final on 31 December 2020.[6] After failing to produce the show in 2020, the official X Factor Belarus Instagram account announced the show would return for a new audition round in March 2021. The proposed date for the final was again set for New Year's Eve.

References

  1. ^ Described as "something you can't quite put your finger on" by Cheryl Cole, a judge on the UK version of The X Factor, The Xtra Factor, 23 November 2009
  2. ^ "X Factor Belarus to go on air in autumn". Belta.by. Belta Press Agency. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  3. ^ "X-Factor". TVR.by. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  4. ^ Из-за коронавируса белорусский "Х-Фактор" временно приостановил прослушивания. TUT.by. Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Наберитесь терпения🙈 Мы тоже очень скучаем и ждём встречи с вами! Готовьтесь, репетируйте и оттачивайте своё вокальное мастерство! Как только будет известен новый график предкастингов, мы сразу опубликуем и расскажем❤️" (in Russian). X Factor Belarus. 6 July 2020. Archived from the original on 26 December 2021 – via Instagram.
  6. ^ "X-Factor". TVR.by. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  7. ^ "The X Factor Malta minn Ottubru" (in Maltese). TVM. 20 June 2018.
  8. ^ "Factor X". Cuatro. Archived from the original on 6 December 2009.
  9. ^ "Telecinco recupera por sorpresa 'Factor X' 6 años después de su última edición". FormulaTV (in Spanish). 23 January 2024. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
  10. ^ Kanal D cancelled the series during one of the live episodes in July 2014 due to poor ratings.