The WORST episodes of The X Factor
Every episode of The X Factor ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of The X Factor!
Aspiring singers compete to become the nation's next singing sensation.
#1 - Live Results 3: Swinging for Survival
Season 1 - Episode 152 - Aired 10/25/2009
Join Dermot O'Leary live for the results of the public vote. The two acts with the lowest number of votes must perform again in the final showdown. Then judges Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue, Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole will decide who stays to sing another day and who leaves the competition. Plus Michael Bublé and Westlife are live on stage.
#2 - Live show 10: The Final
Season 1 - Episode 165 - 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.
#3 - Live Results 9: The Final Three
Season 1 - Episode 164 - 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?
#4 - Live Show 9: Michael Jackson Week
Season 1 - Episode 163 - 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?
#5 - Live Results 8: Who's In The Semis?
Season 1 - Episode 162 - 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.
#6 - Live Show 8: Take That & Elton John Week
Season 1 - Episode 161 - 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.
#7 - Live Results 7: Who Will Stay And Who Will Go Go?
Season 1 - Episode 160 - 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.
#8 - Live Show 7: Wham! Week
Season 1 - Episode 159 - 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.
#9 - Live Results 6 : Another One Bites The Dust
Season 1 - Episode 158 - Aired 11/15/2009
It is time for the seven remaining acts to find out the result of the public vote. The two acts with the lowest numbers of votes must sing for survival in the final showdown. Then judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh will decide who stays in the competition and who is sent home. Plus there is a guest performance by Colombian pop superstar Shakira. Hosted by Dermot O'Leary.
#10 - Live Show 6: Queen Week
Season 1 - Episode 157 - Aired 11/14/2009
Only seven acts remain and the competition will be getting fiercer than ever as the performers battle it out to stay in the running. Judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh will be on the edges of their seats as they support the singers they are mentoring, while host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to deal with all the tears and triumphs. Who will impress the judges - and the voting public - today?
#11 - Live Results 5 : Who's Made The Cut?
Season 1 - Episode 156 - 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.
#12 - Live Show 5: Movie Week
Season 1 - Episode 155 - 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.
#13 - Live Results 4: And The Fourth Act To Leave Is...
Season 1 - Episode 154 - 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.
#14 - Live Show 4: Rock Week
Season 1 - Episode 153 - Aired 10/31/2009
All the performances and much more from The X Factor's very first Rock week.
#15 - Live results 10: And The Winner Is...
Season 1 - Episode 166 - 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.
#16 - Live Show 3: Big Band Week
Season 1 - Episode 151 - Aired 10/24/2009
The 10 remaining acts battle it out to win the public's votes and stay in the competition. Today's theme is Big Band, which means the contestants must face the challenge of singing with a full orchestra. How will they get on? Judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Louis Walsh will be keen to support the acts they are mentoring, and host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to keep everyone going as the tension mounts.
#17 - Live Results 2 : And Then There Were Ten
Season 1 - Episode 150 - Aired 10/18/2009
Join host Dermot O'Leary live as the 11 remaining acts find out the results of the public vote. The two acts with the lowest number of votes must 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 the legendary Whitney Houston performs live, in her first UK TV appearance in 12 years.
#18 - Live Show 2: Diva Week
Season 1 - Episode 149 - Aired 10/17/2009
Watch all 11 acts strut their stuff as they make their claim to The X Factor throne. Tonight the competition really hots up, and Whitney Houston is a special guest tomorrow night. Louis Walsh will be absent from both shows as he attends Stephen Gately's funeral in Dublin.
#19 - Live Results 1: Who's Heading Home?
Season 1 - Episode 148 - Aired 10/11/2009
It's a brand new live Sunday night results show as the final 12 discover the outcome of the public vote. The two acts 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 is out of the competition. Last year's winner Alexandra Burke gives the first performance of her new single - and in a world exclusive Robbie Williams is back performing live!
#20 - Judges' Houses 1: Singing For Survival
Season 1 - Episode 145 - Aired 10/3/2009
The X Factor goes global, as the 24 remaining acts jet off around the world to the judges' houses. Simon is at his home in Los Angeles, while Cheryl is in Marrakech, Louis is in Italy and Dannii is in Dubai. The judges are joined by Kylie Minogue, Will Young, Ronan Keating and Sinitta, who will be helping them make the tough decisions needed to whittle down the contestants to the final 12. Host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to support the singers as they face their biggest performance so far.
#21 - Auditions 6: Now or Never
Season 1 - Episode 142 - Aired 9/20/2009
It is the last leg of this year's auditions, and we will see the final group of hopefuls from the record number who applied. Judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh are on a whistle stop tour of Britain to find any other potential winners out there. The wannabes must perform in front of the judges and a large studio audience, so they will need a strong constitution. But host Dermot O'Leary will be there to offer a shoulder to cry on if they need it. Who will make it through?
#22 - Live Results: The Winner
Season 1 - Episode 138 - Aired 12/13/2008
#23 - Live Show: The Final
Season 1 - Episode 137 - 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.
#24 - Live Results: Semifinal
Season 1 - Episode 136 - Aired 12/6/2008
#25 - Live Show: Semifinal
Season 1 - Episode 135 - 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.