The BEST episodes of The X Factor season 5
Every episode of The X Factor season 5, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The X Factor season 5!
Aspiring singers compete to become the nation's next singing sensation.
#1 - 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.
Watch Now:Amazon#2 - Live Show: Week 6
Season 5 - Episode 21 - Aired 11/15/2008
Theme: Best of British
Watch Now:Amazon#4 - Live Show: Week 3
Season 5 - Episode 15 - Aired 10/25/2008
The 10 remaining acts return to perform live for the third time. This week each act has to perform a Big Band song. The judges give their verdicts on what they have heard. At the end of the show the phone lines are opened for this week's public vote.
Watch Now:Amazon#5 - Live Show: Quarter-final
Season 5 - Episode 25 - Aired 11/29/2008
Five acts remain in the competition and the acts must now perform 2 songs each. This week the theme is American Classics as the contestants perform for the viewers' votes. The two acts with the lowest number of votes must then sing again for the judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue. Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus appears in this episode.
Watch Now:Amazon#12 - The Auditions: Part 4
Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/6/2008
#13 - Live Results: Week 2
Season 5 - Episode 14 - Aired 10/18/2008
#14 - Live Results: Week 4
Season 5 - Episode 18 - Aired 11/1/2008
Theme: Disco Celebrity Guest: Will Young Song performed by celebrity guest: Changes
#15 - The Bootcamp: Part 1
Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 9/27/2008
#16 - The Auditions: Part 6
Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 9/20/2008
#17 - Live Show: Week 5
Season 5 - Episode 19 - Aired 11/8/2008
Dermot O'Leary hosts the fifth live show of the series. This week, the eight remaining acts meet Mariah Carey and must perform her songs for the judges and the viewers. The viewers will then vote for their favourite and the two acts with the lowest number of votes will sing again for the judges who will choose to save one act and send the other home.
#18 - Live Show: Week 4
Season 5 - Episode 17 - Aired 11/1/2008
Down to nine acts and the contestants must sing again for a place in next week's show. This week they must sing classic disco songs for the judges and the viewers at home. The viewers will then vote for their favourite and the two acts with the lowest number of votes will be forced to sing again for the judges who will then decide to save one act.
#19 - The Auditions: Part 2
Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 8/23/2008
#20 - Judges' Houses: Part 1
Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 10/4/2008
#21 - Live Show: The Final
Season 5 - Episode 29 - Aired 12/13/2008
There are only three acts remaining in this week's grand final. After auditions, boot camp, the mentors' houses and nine live shows, the three acts remaining in the competition sing for one last time for the audience vote. The act with the highest number of votes will be crowned The X Factor champion of 2008 winning a £1m recording contract with Simon Cowell. Dannii Minogue is the only judge with no acts left in the competition.
#22 - Live Results: Week 6
Season 5 - Episode 22 - Aired 11/15/2008
Celebrity Guest: Leona Lewis Song performed by celebrity guest: "Run"
#23 - Judges' Houses: Part 2
Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 10/5/2008
#24 - Live Results: Week 1
Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 10/11/2008
#25 - Live Results: Week 3
Season 5 - Episode 16 - Aired 10/25/2008
The finalists performed a cover version of the Mariah Carey song "Hero" on behalf of the Help for Heroes charity. This song will be released as a download on Sunday 26 as a download and Monday 27 physically.