The X Factor (British series 14)


The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. The fourteenth series began airing on ITV on 2 September 2017, presented by Dermot O'Leary. For the first time in seven years, the judging panel remained the same as the previous series, with Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh returning. This is the first series not to include companion show The Xtra Factor, after it was cancelled in January 2017. Its replacement is a programme called Xtra Bites presented by Becca Dudley on the ITV Hub. This is also the first series to be sponsored by Just Eat, with the show having being sponsored by TalkTalk since 2009, as well as the second time the show has premiered in September, rather than August, since the first series in 2004. Rak-Su won the competition on 3 December 2017 and they became the second group to win the competition and Simon Cowell became the winning mentor for the fourth time.

Judges and presenters

In December 2016, Louis Walsh confirmed he would continue to judge the series through 2018, stating he had signed through "the next two years". That same month, both Sharon Osbourne and Nicole Scherzinger cast doubt on their return, with Osbourne citing her dual-work on The Talk, and Scherzinger stating: "I can't confirm that I'm going to but I think if I did return it would have to be with this panel because I'm really close with this panel. I've really enjoyed myself and we're really close." On 13 April 2017, Cowell announced his intentions to retain the same judging panel for the fourteenth series. In June 2017, it was announced that the judging panel would remain the same as the previous series.
Dermot O'Leary returned for his tenth series as presenter. On 23 June 2017, it was announced that Britain's Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon would appear as a guest judge for the first day of Manchester auditions, due to Scherzinger having a "previous diary commitment". Five days later, on 28 June, it was announced that Dixon would once again appear as a guest judge, this time for Osbourne, who was unavailable due to a long-standing back injury. Cowell arrived late to the London auditions on 4 July 2017, due to an illness. On 29 October 2017, Dixon reappeared as a guest judge on the Sunday live show, this time filling in for Cowell, who was absent recovering from an injury during the weekend.

Selection process

On 4 July, it was reported that there would be major changes to the show this year. Auditions are taking place in Thorpe Park, bootcamp would take place in front of an audience and there would be six weeks of live shows instead of the usual ten. Additionally, acts would be sent home on both Saturday and Sunday, as "tedious" Saturday nights received lower viewing figures than Sunday.

Auditions

The minimum age to audition this year was 14 after being reduced down from 16 the previous year. Contestants needed a "yes" from at least three of the four judges to progress to Bootcamp.

Mobile auditions

The mobile auditions began on 11 May 2017, in Belfast and concluded on 23 May 2017, in Yeovil.
LocationDateVenue
Belfast11 May 2017Victoria Square Shopping Centre
Bangor12 May 2017Deninol Shopping Centre
Southampton13 May 2017West Quay Shopping Centre
Douglas14 May 2017The Strand Shopping Centre
Swansea14 May 2017Bambuu Nightclub
Blackpool16 May 2017Houndshill Shopping Centre
Bournemouth16 May 2017Obscura Cafe
Bristol16 May 2017Cabot Circus
Carlisle17 May 2017The Lanes Shopping Centre
Brighton17 May 2017Churchill Square Shopping Centre
Truro17 May 2017The Boat
Newport19 May 2017Quay Arts Centre
Wigan19 May 2017The Grand Arcade Shopping Centre
Plymouth19 May 2017Plymouth Pavilions
Margate20 May 2017Westwood Cross
Margate21 May 2017Westwood Cross
Stoke on Trent22 May 2017Victoria Hall
Exeter22 May 2017Princesshay Centre
Thurrock23 May 2017Lakeside Shopping Centre
Yeovil23 May 2017Quedam Centre

Judges' auditions

The auditions began on 20 June 2017, in Liverpool and concluded on 10 July 2017, in Surrey.
CityDateVenueChanges to judging line-up
Liverpool20–21 June 2017Titanic Hotel
Manchester24 June 2017Old Trafford Cricket GroundAlesha Dixon
Manchester25 June 2017Old Trafford Cricket Ground
Edinburgh28 June 2017Assembly RoomsAlesha Dixon
London4–6 July 2017Tobacco Dockrowspan="2"
Surrey9–10 July 2017Thorpe Park-

Bootcamp

Bootcamp was filmed live at The SSE Arena, Wembley in front of a studio audience. Following the filming of bootcamp and prior to the filming of the six-chair challenge, the judges' categories were revealed. Cowell was given the Groups, Scherzinger was given the Overs, Osbourne was given the Girls and Walsh was given the Boys. There are two different stages to Bootcamp: Wall of Songs, where a list of 35 songs appeared on a wall 4 times, and the four acts who pick the same song would perform it together, and the judges would decide instantly who would make to the 2nd stage of bootcamp: the Boot camp audition, in front of the judges and a live audience, where after an act performance the judges will instantly decide whether or not they'll make it through to the 6-Chair Challenge. The categories were all revealed in Wembley Stadium, and revealed on TV on 7 October.

Six-chair challenge

The six-chair challenge took place over the course of two days, from 26 to 28 July 2017, at The SSE Arena, Wembley. Unlike previous years, where all four judges sat together, each judge was secluded on their own while their respective category performed. The three remaining judges sat together and gave their own critiques of the performance, before allowing the category's judge to make the final decision. It was broadcast over three episodes; Osbourne choosing in the first, Cowell and Scherzinger choosing in the second, with later portions of her decisions shown, alongside Walsh's, in the third.

Judges' houses

The judges' categories were announced in July 2017, with additional details of the judges' houses announced in October 2017. Anthony Russell withdrew after the pre-recorded sections of the show and was replaced by Sam Black who was knocked out of the competition at the Bootcamp stage. Black was in Walsh's Boys category. In a statement, Walsh stated, "Anthony has been fantastic across the series, a great singer and performer who we are really sad to see go. I had to think for a long time who could take the place. Sam had a great reaction from the British public when his Audition aired. So I re-watched it and realised we missed a trick not putting him through at Boot Camp. He has that retro 60s style viewers will love. He's really likeable and talented and I can't wait to hear more." At the end of judges' houses, it was announced that the public could vote for a wildcard from each category bringing the total number of contestants for the live shows to 16.
JudgeCategoryLocationAssistantsContestants eliminatedWildcards
CowellGroupsSouthern FranceCherylLemonade, New Girl BandJack and Joel
OsbourneGirlsSan FranciscoJack and Kelly OsbourneDeanna Mussington, Georgina PantonAlisah Bonaobra
ScherzingerOver 28sSouth AfricaStormzySlavko Kalezić, Berget LewisTalia Dean
WalshBoysIstanbulMikaAidan Martin, Jack MasonLeon Mallett

Finalists

Key:
ActAgeHometownCategory Result
Rak-Su25–26WatfordGroups Winner
Grace Davies21BlackburnGirls Runner-up
Kevin Davy White29 Paris, FranceOver 28s 3rd place
Lloyd Macey23YnyshirBoys 4th place
The Cutkelvins20–24LanarkGroups 5th place
Matt Linnen28Southend-on-SeaOver 28s 6th place
Holly Tandy16BarnsleyGirls 7th place
Rai-Elle Williams16CroydonGirls 8th place
Sean and Conor Price17 & 15 Blessington, IrelandGroups 9th place
Sam Black27Isle of ManBoys 10th place
Alisah Bonaobra 22 Manila, PhilippinesGirls 11th place
Jack and Joel 23 & 22Lincolnshire & LondonGroups 12th place
Tracyleanne Jefford34Sunbury-on-ThamesOver 28s 13th place
Leon Mallett 22NorwichBoys 14th place
Talia Dean 32HounslowOver 28s 15th place
Spencer Sutherland25 Pickerington, United StatesBoys 16th place

Live shows

The finalists for the live shows were announced during the episode broadcast on 22 October 2017. However, at the end of the episode, it was announced by Dermot O'Leary that there would be a wildcard vote for each category. The winners of the wildcard vote were revealed on 28 October at the start of the first live show.
For the first time since series six, a major overhaul of the set layout was made as live shows debuted in a new filming location, LH2 Studios in London, following the closure of Fountain Studios. Numerous other changes were introduced for this series' live shows. This included contestant and musical guest performances on both Saturday and Sunday shows, and the removal of the final showdowns, deadlocks and judges' votes on the Sunday show. Each show, two of the categories would sing and immediately after the performances, the public vote would open for a short amount of time. At the end of each show, the contestant with the fewest votes is automatically eliminated from the competition. In addition, the contestant with the highest votes for that night would also be announced. The two acts who won their respective public vote would then sing against each other in a new element of the show called the prize fight. After another public vote, the winner of the prize fight would win a special weekly prize. For the first time ever the live final was broadcast from the Excel Centre, London and not Wembley Arena as part of the show's drastic changes this series.

Musical guests

performed on the first live show, while Stormzy performed on the second live show. Tokio Myers performed on the third live show, while Rita Ora performed on the fourth. Harry Styles performed on the fifth live show and Paloma Faith performed on the sixth. Matt Terry performed on the seventh live show and Fergie performed on the eighth. James Arthur performed on the first semi-final and Ed Sheeran performed on the second. PrettyMuch and Louis Tomlinson performed on Saturday's final, while P!NK, Sam Smith, CNCO and Little Mix performed during the Sunday final.

Results summary

;Colour key

Week 1 (28/29 October)

The wildcards were revealed at the start of Saturday's show.
Cowell missed the Saturday and Sunday show, due to recovery from falling down the stairs the morning before. Alesha Dixon filled in as a guest judge on Sunday.

Week 2 (4/5 November)

O'Leary confirmed that there would not be a Prize fight from this week onwards and all the categories would perform on the same night for first time this series.
;25 November
ActCategory OrderSongResult
The CutkelvinsGroups 1"Nothing Like You" Safe
Matt LinnenOver 28s 2"Gimme Shelter"Eliminated
Grace DaviesGirls 3"Life on Mars?"Safe
Rak-SuGroups 4"Flowers"Safe
Lloyd MaceyBoys 5"Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me"Safe
Kevin Davy WhiteOver 28s 6"Come Together"Safe

;26 November
ActCategory OrderSongResult
Lloyd MaceyBoys 1"Fix You"Eliminated
Rak-SuGroups 2"I'm Feeling You" Safe
The CutkelvinsGroups 3"Show Me Love"Eliminated
Kevin Davy WhiteOver 28s 4"Voodoo Child "Safe
Grace DaviesGirls 5"Wolves" Safe

Week 6: Final (2/3 December)

It was revealed on 2 December that the winners' single this year would be the contestants' duet.
;2 December
ActCategory OrderFirst songOrderSecond songResult
Kevin Davy WhiteOver 28s 1"Whole Lotta Love"4"Fastlove, Pt. 1" Eliminated
Grace DaviesGirls 2"Live and Let Die"5"Roots" Safe
Rak-SuGroups 3"Mamacita" 6"Dimelo" Safe

Kevin Davy White received the fewest public votes and was automatically eliminated.
;3 December
ActCategory OrderFirst songOrderSecond songResult
Grace DaviesGirls 1"Nothing But Words" 3"Too Young" Runner-up
Rak-SuGroups 2"Touché" 4"Mona Lisa" Winner

Winner's single

All proceeds from the winner's single are in aid of children's hospice charities, Together for Short Lives and Shooting Star Chase. Simco Limited will donate 100% of its profits from the sale of each download and in respect of all audio streaming of the single, and the Chancellor has also agreed to donate the VAT, in each case to be shared equally by the charities. This donation will be at least 20p plus VAT for each download sold in the UK. FremantleMedia, ITV and all performers featuring on the single have also agreed to forgo any master royalties due to them in connection with downloads and all audio streaming of the single.

Reception

Ratings