7/3/22, 12:39 PM The X Factor (British series 8) - Wikipedia

The X Factor (British series 8)

The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. The eighth series
commenced airing on ITV on 20 August 2011[1] and ended on 11 December 2011. The winner was Little The X Factor
Mix, a four-piece girlband known earlier in the series as Rhythmix, consisting of members Perrie Series 8
Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall, and Jesy Nelson. They all entered the competition as
soloist, and were later put together as a group. They became the first act in the groups category to win
in the UK show's history with new judge Tulisa emerging as their winning mentor. Dermot O'Leary
presented the main show on ITV, while Caroline Flack and series 6 runner-up Olly Murs co-presented
the spin-off show The Xtra Factor on ITV2, replacing Konnie Huq from the previous year. Louis Walsh
returned to the judging panel and was joined by Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland and Tulisa. Barlow,
Rowland and Tulisa joined the panel as replacements for former judges, Simon Cowell, Dannii
Minogue and Cheryl Cole. Series 5 winner Alexandra Burke served as a guest judge for week 4 of the
live shows due to Rowland having a throat infection. Series winner Little Mix

On 4 August 2011, promotional pictures of the judges surfaced across the internet. The next day, an Hosted by Dermot O'Leary
advertisement premiered on itv.com.[2] The show's opening titles were replaced with a completely (ITV)
revamped title sequence during the live shows to match those of its then-recently launched American Judges Kelly Rowland
counterpart.
Gary Barlow
The final night episode of the show was marked as the Irish pop group Westlife's last live television Tulisa
performance together before the band split on 23 June 2012 until 2018. Louis Walsh

The eighth series won Most Popular Talent Show at the 17th National Television Awards on 25 January Alexandra Burke
2012.[3] (guest)

Winner Little Mix

Winning mentor Tulisa
Contents Runner-up Marcus Collins
Judges, presenters and other personnel Finals venue Wembley Arena
Selection process Release
Applications and auditions
Original network ITV
Bootcamp
Judges' houses ITV2 (The Xtra
Factor)
Acts
Original release 20 August –

Live shows
11 December 2011
Results summary
Live show details Series chronology
Week 1 (8/9 October)
Week 2 (15/16 October)
Week 3 (22/23 October)
Week 4 (29/30 October)
Week 5 (5/6 November)
Week 6 (12/13 November)
Week 7 (19/20 November)
Week 8: Quarter-Final (26/27 November)
Week 9: Semi-Final (3/4 December)
Week 10: Final (10/11 December)
Charity single
Winner's single
Marks and Spencer deal
Reception
Ratings
Controversies
Allegation of bullying
Frankie Cocozza's ejection
References
External links

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Judges, presenters and other personnel

On 5 May 2011, it was announced that Simon Cowell Series 8 judges
and Cheryl Cole would not return as judges for the
eighth series to work on the first season of The X
Factor USA.[4] On 14 May 2011, Dannii Minogue
announced that she would not be returning either,
due to a clash with Australia's Got Talent, another
show for which she judges. Of her decision, Minogue
said, "During discussions for me to return to The X
Factor it became clear that unfortunately, this year,
The X Factor audition dates in the UK clash with the
live shows of Australia's Got Talent during June and
July. For this reason I am unable to return".[5]
Kelly Rowland Gary Barlow Tulisa Louis Walsh
After Cowell and Cole announced their departures, a
number of celebrities were linked to the judging role
including Frankie Sandford,[6] Alesha Dixon,[7] Lily Allen,[8] and Noel Gallagher. On 9 May 2011, five days before Minogue announced her
departure, news broke that Cowell had offered a seat to Gary Barlow of Take That, though his contract was not finalised. Following Minogue's
announcement, it was reported that Tulisa from N-Dubz had been in talks with producers to take on a judging role to replace Cole.[5] It was
also suggested that Kelly Rowland, formerly of Destiny's Child, was in discussions to take a seat on the judging panel for Minogue's
replacement. Although Cole briefly served as a judge on the American panel, she was dropped from the American panel and Cowell gave her
the option to return to the 2011 UK series judging panel. However, she later rejected his offer due to her unwillingness to judge the UK show
without Cowell.[9] On 30 May 2011, the judging line-up was confirmed as Louis Walsh, Barlow, Tulisa and Rowland.[10][11] Barlow said that he
was "extremely excited" to work on the show, and hoped to find a global superstar. Tulisa hoped to "bring something fresh and new to the
panel", promising to speak her mind. Rowland wanted an "opportunity to hear a few diamonds in the rough" and said she would be "sternly
honest". In week 4 of the live finals on 29 and 30 October, Rowland was unable to attend due to a throat infection and was replaced for these
shows by Alexandra Burke, who won series 5.[12]

In February 2011, Konnie Huq, who presented spin-off series The Xtra Factor for series 7, was told that her contract would not be renewed.[13]
Matt Edmondson, Sandford, Kimberley Walsh, and series 6 contestant Stacey Solomon were all rumoured to be in the running,[14] but it was
confirmed on 31 May 2011 that Caroline Flack would co-present The Xtra Factor with series 6 runner-up Olly Murs.[15]

Selection process

Applications and auditions

The first appeal for applicants for series 8 was broadcast during series 7 on 11 December 2010. For the first
time, contestants could upload a video to YouTube. Auditions in front of the judges for series 8 took place in
Cardiff, London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester. It was the first time auditions had taken
place in Liverpool, and the city replaced Dublin, where auditions were held in 2010.

The auditions started in Birmingham's LG Arena on 1 and 2 June. They then took place in Glasgow's SEC
Centre on 6 June and continued in Manchester's Event City on 12, 13 and 14 June. More auditions took place

at Cardiff's International Arena on 29 June, and at London's O2 on 6, 7 and 8 July, and finished in Glasgow
Liverpool's Echo Arena on 13 and 14 July.[16] The Manchester auditions were postponed from 18 to 20
May.[17] Liverpool Manchester

London and Birmingham auditions were broadcast during the first episode on 20 August More of 2011.[18] Birmingham

the London auditions, as well as the Liverpool and Manchester auditions, aired on 27 August 2011.[19] On 3

Cardiff London
September, the Glasgow auditions and more from London were shown.[20] More auditions from Manchester,
Birmingham and London were broadcast during the 10 September episode. More from London, plus the
Manchester and Glasgow auditions were broadcast in the 11 September episode.[21] The 17 September episode
showed more auditions from Liverpool, Cardiff, London, Glasgow and Manchester. The final auditions aired Cities that auditions were held in.
on 18 September, and featured auditions from Liverpool, London and Cardiff.

Summary of judges' auditions

City Date(s) Venue Changes to the judging line-up
Birmingham 1–2 June 2011 LG Arena
Glasgow 6 June 2011 SEC Centre
—
Manchester 12–14 June 2011 EventCity
Cardiff 29 June 2011 International Arena

London 6–8 July 2011 The O2 Arena Gary Barlow absent (some auditions)

Liverpool 13–14 July 2011 Echo Arena —

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Bootcamp

Bootcamp started on 18 August 2011.[22] The first episode of bootcamp was broadcast on 24 September 2011. It showed 191 acts attending a
pre-bootcamp party[23] at The Selsdon Park Hotel in Croydon,[24] while the judges reviewed their auditions to see if there were some acts they
wanted to cut before bootcamp started.[23] They cut 39 acts, leaving 152. The acts were split into 30 groups in which to perform at Wembley
Arena, and each group was given one of six songs by the judges: "You've Got the Love", "Breakeven", "Price Tag", "Born This Way", "Forget
You" or "Firework".[23] The judges then went on to cut over 80 acts, but called back some soloists, who were asked if they were interested in
forming groups. All agreed and were workshopped to see which singers would work well together.[23] They formed six groups.[25] The 61[25]
remaining acts were then given the task of learning one song, 'making it their own' and performing it in front of a live audience,[23] the second
time bootcamp was open to an audience (the first was in 2009). The judges then chose the final 32 acts, based on these performances.
However, they chose only 31 acts, and the final group was made from four members of two groups previously put together by the judges.[25]

Judges' houses

Judges' houses, the final part of the selection process, was filmed in September. Judges were given their categories in late August. Barlow
mentored the Boys, Rowland the Girls, Walsh the Over 25s, and Tulisa the Groups.[25][26] Robbie Williams joined Barlow in Los Angeles,
Jennifer Hudson assisted Rowland in Miami,[27] Walsh was accompanied by Sinitta in Barcelona,[28] and Tulisa received help from Jessie J in
Mykonos.[29] At judges' houses each act performed two songs for their mentor and his/her guest judge, although only one song was mentioned
and shown on the main show, with the other song shown on The Xtra Factor instead.

Sian Phillips was originally selected for the judges' houses, but due to visa issues, she was unable to travel to Miami and was thus replaced by
Sarah Watson in the Girls category.[30]

Judges Houses Performances

Act in bold advanced

Groups:

The Keys: "Best Thing I Never Had"

The Estrelles: "Love the Way You Lie"
Girl v Boy: "Use Somebody"
The Lovettes:"Forever Is Over"
The Risk: "No Air"
2 Shoes: "Tik Tok"
Nu Vibe: "Written in the Stars"
Rythmix: "Big Girls Don't Cry"

Girls:

Amelia: "E.T."
Jade: "I Can't Make You Love Me"
Sophie: "He Won't Go"
Sarah: "Knock You Down"
Melanie: "Grenade"
Holly: "For the First Time"
Misha: "Fly"
Janet: "Beautiful"

Over 25s

Johnny: "Love Is a Losing Game"

Sami: "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down"
Terry: "Handbags & Gladrags"
Carolynne: "Need You Now"
Joseph: "Just the Way You Are"
Goldie: "On the Floor"
Jonjo: "Don't You Remember?"
Kitty: "Beautiful Disaster"

Boys:

Frankie: "What's My Name?"

John: "Promise This"
Joe: "Knockin' on Heaven's Door"
James: "Skinny Love"

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