The X Factor
Season 8
201131 episodes
Episode 1
Auditions 1
Aug 20, 20111h
The first set of hopefuls audition in front of the judges hoping to gain a place in the next round of the competition. Dermot is on hand to console those who fail to make it through. Frankie Cocozza and Kitty Brucknell are amongst the successful acts who manage to make it through to boot camp. Raymond Harding and Wendy Davis fail to impress though and find their hopes dashed at the first hurdle. Goldie Cheung shocks Gary when she gives him a lap dance and ends up making it through to boot camp.
Episode 2
Auditions 2
Aug 27, 20111h
Dermot O'Leary hosts the second round of auditions, which come from London and Liverpool. Louis Walsh and new judges Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland and Tulisa Contostavlos are hoping to find talented future stars, but have this week's crop of hopefuls got what it takes to impress them? Strutting their stuff this week are a 45-year-old from Harrow who hopes that this is his chance to shine, a 20-year-old Romeo who professes his love for Kelly and a band whose line-up was finalised only weeks ago. Can they hit the right note with the panel?
Episode 3
Auditions 3
Sep 3, 20111h
Dermot O'Leary hosts the third set of auditions in the search for a new pop sensation. Judges Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland and Tulisa Contostavlos are on the hunt for outstanding talent, but will they find what they are looking for? This week, the tryouts move to a new city, where hopeful performers have lined up for their chance to sing for the panel. Dermot is on hand to celebrate or commiserate with the contestants.
Episode 4
Auditions 4
Sep 10, 20111h
Dermot O'Leary presents the fourth set of auditions from Britain's biggest singing competition. Judges Louis Walsh, Kelly Rowland, Tulisa Contostavlos and Gary Barlow continue their star search across the country, but will today's crop of hopeful performers be able to impress them? Dermot is on hand to celebrate or commiserate with the contestants.
Episode 5
Auditions 5
Sep 11, 20111h
Dermot O'Leary presents the fifth set of auditions. Judges Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland, Tulisa Contostavlos and Louis Walsh are on the lookout for a potential star of the future, but will any of today's contestants live up to the panel's high expectations?
Episode 6
Auditions 6
Sep 17, 20111h
Dermot O'Leary presents the sixth set of auditions. Judges Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland, Tulisa Contostavlos and Louis Walsh are on the lookout for a potential star of the future, but will any of today's contestants live up to the panel's high expectations?
Episode 7
Auditions 7
Sep 18, 20111h
Dermot O'Leary presents the seventh set of auditions. Judges Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland, Tulisa Contostavlos and Louis Walsh are on the lookout for a potential star of the future, but will any of today's contestants live up to the panel's high expectations?
Episode 8
Bootcamp 1
Sep 24, 20111h
The successful auditionees head to London's Hammersmith Apollo for the biggest bootcamp ever. Judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Louis Walsh and Cheryl Cole will be putting 200 acts through their paces. Who will be able to handle the pressure and stand out from the crowd, and who will be heading home? After this first challenge, only 50 acts can go through to the next bootcamp stage. Host Dermot O'Leary is on hand to offer condolences to the unlucky and celebrate with the chosen few.
Episode 9
Bootcamp 2
Sep 25, 20111h
Join host Dermot O'Leary for the second in our bootcamp weekend double bill. The 50 remaining acts must perform again in front of an audience of thousands. Each singer has been able to practise overnight, and today is their last chance to impress judges Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue, Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh. The panel must now start choosing the performers they believe can go all the way. Who will make it into the final 24?
Episode 10
Judges Houses 1
Oct 1, 20111h
The remaining acts jet off around the world to the judges' homes, where they will battle it out for a place in the final 16. Each panellist is joined by a celebrity guest mentor to help them whittle down the list of acts. Who will make it through to the live shows?
Episode 11
Judges Houses 2
Oct 2, 20111h
In four locations around the world, it is make or break time for the remaining hopefuls as they find out whether or not they have made it to the live shows. Judges Kelly Rowland, Tulisa Contostavlos, Louis Walsh and Gary Barlow have some big decisions to make as they work out who they are sending to the final 16.
Episode 12
Live Show 1
Oct 8, 20111h
After weeks of gruelling auditions, the remaining 16 contestants have reached the live rounds. Dermot O'Leary presents the first of the live shows, in which the finalists perform for the judges, the audience and the viewers at home. Gary Barlow is mentoring the boys, Kelly Rowland is looking after the girls, Louis Walsh is helping the over-28s and Tulisa Contostavlos takes charge of the groups.
Episode 13
Live Show 1 Results
Oct 9, 20111h
Dermot O'Leary hosts the live results show in which the finalists find out who is going home. There will be tears and drama as no-one wants to leave the competition in the first week. Plus 2010 winner Matt Cardle returns with the first-ever performance of his new single.
Episode 14
Live Show 2
Oct 15, 20111h
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.
Episode 15
Live Show 2 Results
Oct 16, 20111h
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
Episode 16
Live Show 3
Oct 22, 20111h
The 10 remaining acts battle it out to win the public's votes and stay in the competition.
Episode 17
Live show 3 Results
Oct 23, 20111h
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
Episode 18
Live Show 4
Oct 29, 20111h
All the performances and much more from The X Factor's
Episode 19
Live Show 4 Results
Oct 30, 20111h
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.
Episode 20
Live Show 5
Nov 5, 20111h
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.
Episode 21
Live Show 5 Results
Nov 6, 20111h
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?
Episode 22
Live Show 6
Nov 12, 20111h
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
Episode 23
Live Show 6 Results
Nov 13, 20111h
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
Episode 24
Live Show 7
Nov 19, 20111h
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.
Episode 25
Live Show 7 Results
Nov 20, 20111h
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
Episode 26
Live Show 8
Nov 26, 20111h
Theme: "Movie Week"
Episode 27
Live Show 8 Results
Nov 27, 20111h
Result show 8, with celebrity performers: Rebecca Ferguson ("Nothing's Real But Love") and Rihanna ("We Found Love")
Episode 28
Semi-Final
Dec 3, 20111h
Dermot O'Leary hosts the semi-finals. The four remaining act 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.
Episode 29
Semi-Final Results
Dec 4, 20111h
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?
Episode 30
Final
Dec 10, 20111h
Dermot O'Leary presents the final of the singing competition from Wembley Arena. The remaining contestants must perform in front of a crowd of 10,000 in a bid to win viewers' votes and claim the life-changing prize of a recording contract. There are also performances from top international guest stars. With judges Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland, Tulisa Contostavlos and Louis Walsh.
Episode 31
Final Results
Dec 11, 20111h
Dermot O'Leary reveals the results of the public vote. The two acts left battling for the crown perform what will become the winner's single in front of 10,000 people at Wembley Arena, before they find out who has won this year's competition. Plus there are performances from top international guest stars. With judges Gary Barlow, Kelly Rowland, Tulisa Contostavlos and Louis Walsh.