The brainchild of Simon Cowell’s company Syco (a partner of FremantleMedia Production), The X Factor replaced Pop Idol on British TV as the annual search for the next pop star of tomorrow. The first series began in September 2004.
A panel of expert judges from the music industry, including Cowell himself, preside over initial auditions, with audience votes coming into play during the later live shows featuring the selected contestants in four distinct categories, one assigned to each of the four judges (14-24 year old boys, 14-24 year old girls, over 25s and groups). The X Factor has no barriers as it is open to all ages, all styles, solo acts or groups. And the performers aren’t the only ones competing – it’s judge v judge, artist v artist.
The X Factor is the biggest television talent competition in Europe, with over 180,000 contestants auditioning for series 5. The final of that series also attracted an audience of 14.1 million UK viewers, representing a 55% share. The format has been sold to 17 countries, often rating as the number one show.