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The X Factor is a British popular music talent show, broadcast on Saturdays on ITV1, with spinoff "behind-the-scenes" shows The Xtra Factor and X Factor 24/7 screened on ITV2. It replaced Pop Idol in 2004 and is produced by FremantleMedia's talkbackTHAMES and Simon Cowell's production company SYCOtv. The "X Factor" of the title refers to the undefinable "something" that makes for star quality.
The show is primarily concerned with identifying singing talent, though appearance, personality, stage presence and dance routines are also an important element of many performances. Some acts also accompany themselves on guitar or piano, though almost always over a backing track. The single most important attribute that the judges are seeking, however, is the ability to appeal to a mass market of pop fans. The prize is a £1,000,000 (sterling) recording contract (in addition to the publicity that appearance in the later stages of the show itself generates, not only for the winner but the other highly ranked contestants).
After its second series the successful Pop Idol was put on indefiniate hiatus, largely because Simon Cowell wished to launch a show that he owned the television rights to. The X-Factor launched in August 2004 and ran to December 2004. It was hugely popular and a second series ran from August to December 2005. The third series is currently airing on ITV; it started on 19 August 2006 and will conclude on 16 December 2006. The judges are Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh, and the show is hosted by Kate Thornton. Voice-overs are provided by Peter Dickson and Enn Reitel. As of August 2006 The X Factor is being sponsored by mobile phone manufacturer Nokia.
The X Factor is billed as the UK's biggest ever talent search, as it was the first such contest to have no upper age limit (although the minimum limit is 16), and to allow both solo singers and groups to compete. Usually those who audition are between the ages of 16 and 60. Over 50,000 auditioned for series 1, around 75,000 for series 2 and around 100,000 for series 3. Viewing figures of around ten million are claimed for series 2. Over three million public votes were cast in the series 2 semi-final, and six million in the first part of the final.
At the British Comedy Awards 2005, The X Factor beat Friday Night with Jonathan Ross and Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway to take the award for Best Comedy Entertainment Programme (rather bizarrely, since it is not intended as comedy). The award was presented by Ricky Gervais.
