The X Factor: Battle of the Stars is a UK celebrity special edition of The X Factor, which screened on ITV, started on 29 May 2006 and lasting for eight consecutive nights. Pop Idol was meant to air in its place as Celebrity Pop Idol but was stopped shortly before transmission, when ITV picked The X Factor over it.
Nine celebrity acts participated, singing live in front of the nation and facing the judges of the previous The X Factor series, Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh. Voting revenues were donated to the celebrities' chosen charities.
Cowell originally axed the format after its first airing, describing as "pointless", however, a revamped variation of the format aired in 2019, titled The X Factor: Celebrity with Cowell and Walsh reprising their roles as judges and Nicole Scherzinger replacing Osbourne on the panel as well as Dermot O'Leary taking over from Kate Thornton as host.
^Loos replaced Andrea Catherwood, who was originally scheduled to appear as James Hewitt's singing partner, but was not allowed to appear after ITV News bosses refused to give her permission.[1]
Live shows
Results summary
Colour key
–
Contestant was in the bottom two and had to sing again in the final showdown
–
Contestant received the fewest public votes and was immediately eliminated (no final showdown)
Act
Show 1
Show 2
Show 3
Show 4
Show 5
Quarter-Final
Semi-Final
Final
Lucy Benjamin
Safe
Safe
Bottom Two
Safe
Safe
Safe
Safe
Winner (day 8)
Matt Stevens
Safe
Safe
Safe
Safe
Safe
Safe
Safe
Runner-up (day 8)
Chris Moyles
Safe
Safe
Safe
Safe
Safe
Safe
3rd
Eliminated (day 7)
The Chefs
Safe
Safe
Safe
Safe
Bottom Two
4th
Eliminated (day 6)
Nikki Sanderson
Safe
Safe
Safe
Bottom Two
Bottom Two
Eliminated (day 5)
James & Rebecca
Safe
Safe
Safe
Bottom Two
Eliminated (day 4)
Michelle Marsh
Safe
Bottom Two
Bottom Two
Eliminated (day 3)
Gillian McKeith
Bottom Two
Bottom Two
Eliminated (day 2)
Paul & Debbie
Bottom Two
Eliminated (day 1)
Final showdown
McKeith, Paul & Debbie
McKeith, Marsh
Benjamin, Marsh
James & Rebecca, Sanderson
The Chefs, Sanderson
No final showdown or judges' votes; results were based on public votes alone
It was reported on 26 August 2006 that Cowell had axed the show, describing it as "pointless" and adding "we are never going to do it again."[3] However, Cowell later stated in an interview with The Sun on 30 November 2018 that he would consider reviving the show for a second series as a charity special.[4]
The show's format was reported to return in 2019, along with a separate series for former contestants with a similar format, as the regular series is being put on hiatus due to declining ratings.[5][6] On 7 July 2019, Walsh spoke about the return of the series, stating, "I go to Los Angeles on Tuesday, I go to Simon's house in Malibu, it's me Simon and Nicole [Scherzinger] and we're doing the celebrity one."[7]
