The essential episodes of The X Factor
Watch these 15 in order and you've got The X Factor — each pick states its reason.
- 01
- 02
The nation's favourite singing show continues into its second weekend of the live show phase tonight as the remaining contestants take to the stage to perform for the judges and audience at home, all in the hope of sealing their place in the competition for another week.
- 03
The nation's favourite singing show continues this weekend as the remaining contestants take to the stage to perform live for the judges and audience at home, all in the hope of sealing their place in the competition for another week.Dermot O'Leary leads the proceedings, while judges and mentors Louis Walsh, Sharon Osbourne, Nicole Scherzinger and Simon Cowell take their seats behind the judges' desk to battle it out with their contestants.Louis has the Groups, Nicole the Boys, Simon the Girls and Sharon the Overs, with drama and disagreements, conflict is sure to follow….Sunday's show will see the next heart-breaking elimination, as Dermot O'Leary, tells the remaining acts who is safe and who has scored the lowest number of votes. There will be a nail-biting sing-off before the next contestant leaves the competition.Throughout the Sunday live shows an outstanding line-up of guest stars will perform.
- 04
This year's The X Factor comes to a close this weekend with the series Live Final.After thousands applied the competition is now down to the final three contestants, who are all one step away from winning a life changing record contract.The final three will each perform two songs including a surprise duet with a guest performer in front of an audience of thousands at Wembley Arena, as well as trying to impress viewers at home who will be voting for their 2016 champion.After a nail-biting wait, the contestant with the lowest public vote will have to leave the competition in third position.The remaining two contestants will then compete in Sunday night's final showdown before the winner is crowned.Throughout the Sunday final an outstanding line-up of guest stars will perform.
- 05
Dermot O'Leary hosts the penultimate round of auditions as the UK's biggest singing competition continues. Dermot is standing by to cheer on the nervous hopefuls as they approach judges Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, Louis Walsh and Nicole Scherzinger, and offers a shoulder to cry on as always for those who fail to make the grade. Which of this week's performers will impress the judges and make it through to boot camp?
- 06
In the first of three special Six Chair Challenge episodes, the stakes are high as acts from each category perform individually. Their judge then has to decide if they want the act to take one of the six seats on stage - each one representing a place at Judges' Houses. However, even if they win a seat, the contestants face an anxious wait as no one is safe until the last person in each category has sung. Each judge is able to change their mind at any point, swapping an act already through with someone else who comes on and out-performs them. Who will have what it takes to keep hold of their seat and move one step closer to a coveted place in the live shows?
- 07
The UK's favourite singing competition continues into its third weekend of live shows as the remaining contestants sing their hearts out. Another big name guest also performs live.
- 08
Live Semi-Finals: Top 6 Perform
The nation's favourite singing show continues into its semi-final round as the remaining contestants take to the stage to perform for the judges and audience at home, with the hope of making it into next week's final.
- 09
Live Semi-Finals: Top 5 Perform
The nation's favourite singing show continues into its semi-final round as the remaining contestants take to the stage to perform for the judges and audience at home, with the hope of making it into next week's final.
- 10
The search for a new music superstar continues with the second of the Auditions shows
- 11
The search for a new music superstar heats up as the auditions continue at the SSE Arena.
- 12
The search for a new music superstar heats up as the auditions continue. Judges Robbie Williams, Ayda Williams, Louis Tomlinson and Simon Cowell audition more hopefuls at the SSE Arena in Wembley. They are joined by Dermot O'Leary, who will be on hand to guide viewers and contestants alike through their X Factor journey, providing them with a word of advice or a much-needed hug as the contestants perform in front of the judging panel.
- 13
The X Factor live shows continue with each of the remaining contestants taking to the stage in the hope of impressing the audience at home and the panel of judges.
- 14
It's The X Factor Final, and the remaining contestants take to the stage in the hope of impressing the audience at home and the panel of judges one last time.
- 15
Live Finals: Winner Announcement
The final results show features a chart-topping act performing, before the winner of this year's competition is announced.
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