The BEST episodes of The X Factor

#1 - Live Results: Semifinal

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 12/4/2004

#2 - Live Show: Week 5

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 11/20/2004

#3 - Auditions 3: Birmingham welcomes Natalie Imbruglia!

Season 7 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/4/2010

Guest judge Natalie Imbruglia helps Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh select the best solo singers and groups at the auditions in Birmingham, where highlights include a female duo whose attitude fails to impress Simon. Plus, more from London, where a pair of twins from Paris bring back memories of Jedward for the judges.

#4 - Live Results: Week 2

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 10/30/2004

#5 - Live Show: The Final

Season 1 - Episode 23 - Aired 12/11/2004

#6 - The Bootcamp: Part 2

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/16/2004

#7 - Live Show 4: Rock Week

Season 6 - Episode 17 - Aired 10/31/2009

All the performances and much more from The X Factor's very first Rock week.

#8 - Live Results 4: And The Fourth Act To Leave Is...

Season 6 - Episode 18 - Aired 11/1/2009

Dermot O'Leary hosts the all-new Sunday night X Factor results show, as the nine acts find out the results of the public vote. The two with the lowest number of votes will sing for survival in the final showdown, then it is up to the judges to decide who stays to sing another day and who leaves the competition. Plus Bon Jovi and JLS perform.

#9 - Live Show 5: Movie Week

Season 6 - Episode 19 - Aired 11/7/2009

The battle for the crown continues as the eight remaining acts step onto Britain's biggest stage for the fifth live show. Each of the performers will be hoping to impress the voting audience at home as well as judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh. Host Dermot O'Leary will be on hand to deal with the war of words as the judges give their views on each performance and defend their singers. Next time, one act will be leaving the competition.

#10 - Live Results 5 : Who's Made The Cut?

Season 6 - Episode 20 - Aired 11/8/2009

Dermot O'Leary hosts the live results show. The remaining performers will be on tenterhooks as the results of the public vote are revealed, as the two acts with the lowest number of votes must sing for their survival in the final showdown. Who will judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh choose to send home? Plus performance from Leona Lewis and the Black Eyed Peas.

#11 - Live Show 7: Wham! Week

Season 6 - Episode 23 - Aired 11/21/2009

There are only six acts remaining in the competition, and today they must sing live again in a battle to win the biggest prize in pop. Also fighting it out are judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh, who are each mentoring one category of singers. Host Dermot O'Leary will be on hand to deal with all the tears and triumphs.

#12 - Live Results 7: Who Will Stay And Who Will Go Go?

Season 6 - Episode 24 - Aired 11/22/2009

It is time to reveal the results of the public vote. The two acts with the fewest votes will have to perform again in a sing-off, and then it is up to the judges to decide who stays in the competition and who is eliminated. Plus there are live performances from Mariah Carey and Susan Boyle. Hosted by Dermot O'Leary.

#13 - Live Show 8: Take That & Elton John Week

Season 6 - Episode 25 - Aired 11/28/2009

It is the eighth live show, and with only five acts remaining, the pressure is really on to make an impression on both the judges and the voters at home. Panellists Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh will be rooting for the performers in their categories, while host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to deal with all the tears and triumphs.

#14 - Live Results 8: Who's In The Semis?

Season 6 - Episode 26 - Aired 11/29/2009

Dermot O'Leary reveals the results of the latest public vote. The two acts with the fewest votes must take part in a sing-off, and then judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole decide who stays to compete in the quarter-finals, and who must leave for good. Also featuring live performances from Rihanna and Alicia Keys.

#15 - Live Show 9: Michael Jackson Week

Season 6 - Episode 27 - Aired 12/5/2009

Dermot O'Leary hosts the semi-finals. The four remaining acts - Danyl, Joe, Olly and Stacey - must perform two songs each, and it will be up to them to really sing their hearts out if they are to be in with a chance of making it to next week's final. Judges Cheryl Cole, Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh will be crossing their fingers for their favoured acts. Who will impress the panel and the voters at home?

#16 - Live Results 9: The Final Three

Season 6 - Episode 28 - Aired 12/6/2009

Lady Gaga and Janet Jackson perform in tonight's show, as Dermot O'Leary reveals which performers will have to fight for survival in a sing-off. The bottom two acts will face the judges again, and one will be eliminated, losing their chance of competing in next week's final. Who is going home today?

#17 - Live show 10: The Final

Season 6 - Episode 29 - Aired 12/12/2009

It is the final! Hundreds of thousands of hopefuls came to the nationwide auditions, but now only three acts remain to battle it out for the title - and one will be going home today. At stake is the biggest prize in pop - a life-changing record contract and the release of their debut single. Judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh are also joining in the race to the finish line, as they cross their fingers for their own acts. Plus some amazing international guest stars will be appearing. Hosted by Dermot O'Leary.

#18 - Live results 10: And The Winner Is...

Season 6 - Episode 30 - Aired 12/13/2009

Now the moment the nation has been waiting for arrives, as Dermot O'Leary reveals who the public has crowned 2009 X Factor champion. Joining Dermot and the remaining two acts are judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh, as well as more international guest stars. The final two acts each perform what will become the winner's first single. Then at last the suspense is over and we discover which act has taken the prize.

#19 - Live Results: Week 5

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 11/20/2004

#20 - Live Show 5 Results

Season 9 - Episode 21 - Aired 11/4/2012

#21 - The Auditions: Part 5

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/2/2004

#22 - Live Show: Week 1

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/23/2004

#23 - Live Results: Week 1

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 10/23/2004

#24 - Live Show: Week 2

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 10/30/2004

#25 - Live Show: Semifinal

Season 5 - Episode 27 - Aired 12/6/2008

With only four acts remaining in the competition, we reach the 9th live show of the series. The contestants must each perform 2 songs for the viewers' votes. The 2 acts with the lowest number of votes will have to sing again judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue who, for the last time, will choose an act to send home.