The X Factor (British series 3)

Last updated

The X Factor
Series 3
Leonalewis.jpg
Lewis performing in 2009
Hosted by Kate Thornton (ITV)
Judges
Winner Leona Lewis
Winning mentor Simon Cowell
Runner-up Ray Quinn
Release
Original network
Original release19 August (2006-08-19) 
16 December 2006 (2006-12-16)
Series chronology
 Previous
Series 2
Next 
Series 4
List of episodes

The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. The third series was broadcast on ITV from 19 August 2006 until 16 December 2006. Louis Walsh, Sharon Osbourne and Simon Cowell all returned for their third series on the judging panel. Kate Thornton returned to present the main show on ITV, while Ben Shephard returned to present spin-off show The Xtra Factor on ITV2. After the semi-final on 9 December, Cowell became the winning judge even though the series had not yet finished, as two of his acts, Ray Quinn and Leona Lewis, became the two finalists. Lewis won the series on 16 December, with Quinn finishing as runner-up.

Contents

Instead of the earlier red and purple colour scheme, this year's theme was red and blue. A new-look website for the third series was launched on 11 August 2006. The final on 16 December brought in the show's then-highest ever audience, with 12.6 million people tuning in (a 56% audience share), and 8 million votes were cast, with Lewis receiving 60%. [1] Lewis released a cover of Kelly Clarkson's "A Moment Like This" as her winner's single, and it went on to become the Christmas number one on 24 December [2] despite only going on sale four days before on 20 December. [3] It ended as the United Kingdom's second best selling single of the year. [4] In January 2007, the single was awarded platinum status by the British Phonographic Industry. [5] According to the Official Charts Company, the song has sold 895,000 copies in the United Kingdom as of December 2012. [6]

Lewis emerged as the most successful contestant to appear on the X Factor having sold over 30 million records worldwide as well as being the only former contestant to be nominated for a Grammy.

This was the last series presented by Kate Thornton and the last time Ben Shephard presented The Xtra Factor. It was also the last series with only three judges (excluding times when a judge was absent).

Judges and presenters

Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh all returned for their third series on the judging panel. Kate Thornton returned to present the main show on ITV, while Ben Shephard returned to present spin-off show The Xtra Factor on ITV2.

This was both Thornton and Shephard's last series of The X Factor, as Thornton announced her departure on 8 March 2007 and was replaced for the fourth series by Dermot O'Leary. Shephard also quit the show after being passed over for promotion to main presenter. He was replaced by Fearne Cotton. This is the final series to feature just three judges on the panel; from series 4, it was increased for four.

Selection process

Auditions

United Kingdom adm location map.svg
Red pog.svg

London
Cities that auditions were held in.

Auditions began on 7 June 2006. Simon Cowell said on ITV's This Morning "The next international boyband or girlband is what I want to see in this year's show". 100,000 people applied to audition, the most so far. Nearly 20,000 attended an open audition at Old Trafford, Manchester on 18 June 2006.

All three judges, Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh, returned. Hints by Cowell and the surrounding media that a fourth full-time judge mentoring a fourth category of contestants might be added proved to be false. However, American Idol judge Paula Abdul did make an appearance as a guest judge at the London auditions, and further celebrity guests appeared during the live shows. Auditions were held in cities around the UK and Republic of Ireland – London, Manchester, Birmingham, Dublin, Leeds and Glasgow. Cowell had also stated that there could be a 14–24s category but during the audition process the category was named as 16–24s, as in the previous two series. Cowell was given the 16–24s, Osbourne had the Over 25s, and Walsh mentored the Groups. (Both rumoured changes – the lowering of the age limit and the addition of a fourth category – were actually implemented in series 4.)

Bootcamp

It was originally intended that 21 acts (seven for each judge) should remain by the conclusion of the bootcamp stage. However, Cowell decided that he had made a mistake with his seven by failing to include Ray Quinn, and asked the producers to allow one more contestant or act to go through. The other two judges were then allowed to increase their quota to eight as well, giving a total of 24 acts.

Judges' houses

In the "judges' houses" round this was cut down to 12 to go through to the live finals. Avenue were chosen to go through but were later disqualified, having misled the judges over an existing record contract with a manager who was no longer associated with the show. As a consequence of this disqualification, Eton Road were put through in their place. [7]

Judges Houses Performances

Over 25s:

Groups:

16-24s:

Summary of judges' houses
JudgeCategoryLocationAssistantActs Eliminated
Cowell16–24sMiami Sinitta Stacey Barnes, Carlo Muscutelli, Shaun Rogerson, Gemma Sampson
OsbourneOver 25sLondon The Osbournes Katie Angus, Jonathan Bremner, Lyn Fairbanks, Tiwa Savage
WalshGroups Dublin Shane Filan Avenue, Brother's One, Dolly Rockers, Pure Liberty

Acts

Key:

  – Winner
  – Runner-Up
ActAge(s)HometownCategory (mentor)Result
Leona Lewis 21 North London 16-24s (Cowell)Winner
Ray Quinn 18 Liverpool 16-24s (Cowell)Runner-up
Ben Mills 26 Chatham Over 25s (Osbourne)3rd place
The MacDonald Brothers 20 Ayrshire Groups (Walsh)4th place
Eton Road*17-20Various5th place
Robert Allen27 Essex Over 25s (Osbourne)6th place
Nikitta Angus18 Glasgow 16-24s (Cowell)7th place
Ashley McKenzie20 Croydon 8th place
Kerry McGregor 32 West Lothian Over 25s (Osbourne)9th place
Dionne Mitchell26 London 10th place
4Sure23-38VariousGroups (Walsh)11th place
The Unconventionals25-4112th place

Live shows

Results summary

Colour key

  16-24s

  Over 25s

  Groups

  Act was in the bottom two/three and had to sing again in the final showdown
  Act was in the bottom three but received the fewest votes and was immediately eliminated
  Act received the fewest public votes and was immediately eliminated (no final showdown)
  Act won the competition
Weekly results per act
Act Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Quarter-Final Semi-Final Final
Leona LewisSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeWinner
Ray QuinnSafeSafeSafeSafeBottom TwoSafeSafeSafeSafeRunner-Up
Ben MillsSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeBottom TwoSafe3rdEliminated
(semi-final)
The MacDonald BrothersSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeSafe4thEliminated
(quarter-final)
Eton RoadSafeSafeSafeSafeSafeBottom TwoBottom TwoEliminated
(week 7)
Robert AllenSafeBottom TwoSafeBottom TwoSafeBottom TwoEliminated
(week 6)
Nikitta AngusSafeSafeSafeSafeBottom TwoEliminated
(week 5)
Ashley McKenzieSafeSafeBottom TwoBottom TwoEliminated
(week 4)
Kerry McGregorSafeSafeBottom TwoEliminated
(week 3)
Dionne MitchellBottom TwoSafe10th
4SureSafeBottom TwoEliminated
(week 2)
The UnconventionalsBottom TwoEliminated
(week 1)
Final ShowdownMitchell, The Unconventionals4Sure, AllenMcGregor, McKenzieAllen, McKenzieAngus, QuinnAllen, Eton RoadEton Road, MillsNo final showdown or judges' votes: results were based on public votes alone
Walsh's vote to eliminate (Groups)MitchellAllenMcGregorMcKenzieQuinnAllenMills
Osbourne's vote to eliminate (Over 25s)The Unconventionals4SureMcKenzieMcKenzieAngusEton RoadEton Road
Cowell's vote to eliminate (16-24s)The Unconventionals4SureMcGregorAllenAngusAllenEton Road
EliminatedThe Unconventionals
2 of 3 votes
Majority
4Sure
2 of 3 votes
Majority
Dionne Mitchell
Public vote
to save
Ashley McKenzie
2 of 3 votes
Majority
Nikitta Angus
2 of 3 votes
Majority
Robert Allen
2 of 3 votes
Majority
Eton Road
2 of 3 votes
Majority
The MacDonald Brothers
Public vote
to save
Ben Mills
Public vote
to save
Ray Quinn
Public vote
to win
Kerry McGregor
2 of 3 votes
Majority

Live show details

Week 1 (14 October)

Acts' performances on the first live show
ActOrderSongMotown ArtistResult
Robert Allen1"All Night Long (All Night)" Lionel Richie Safe
Eton Road2"My Girl" The Temptations
Nikitta Angus3"Heaven Must Have Sent You" The Elgins
Ben Mills4"The Tracks of My Tears" The Miracles
The MacDonald Brothers5"Three Times a Lady" Commodores
Ray Quinn6"Ben" Michael Jackson
Dionne Mitchell7"I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" The Supremes Bottom Two
The Unconventionals8"Dancing in the Street" Martha and the Vandellas Eliminated
Ashley McKenzie9"Easy" Commodores Safe
Kerry McGregor10"You Are the Sunshine of My Life" Stevie Wonder
4Sure11"What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" Jimmy Ruffin
Leona Lewis12"I'll Be There" Jackson 5
Judges' votes to eliminate
  • Walsh: Dionne Mitchell – backed his own act, The Unconventionals.
  • Osbourne: The Unconventionals – backed her own act, Dionne Mitchell.
  • Cowell: The Unconventionals – stated that Mitchell had performed better than The Unconventionals on the night.

Week 2 (21 October)

Acts' performances on the second live show
ActOrderSongResult
Leona Lewis1"The First Cut Is the Deepest"Safe
Kerry McGregor2"I Don't Want to Talk About It"
The MacDonald Brothers3"Sailing"
Ashley McKenzie4"I'd Rather Go Blind"
Dionne Mitchell5"Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)"
4Sure6"You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)"Eliminated
Nikitta Angus7"Bring It On Home to Me"Safe
Robert Allen8"Try a Little Tenderness"Bottom Two
Eton Road9"This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)"Safe
Ray Quinn10"What a Wonderful World"
Ben Mills11"Maggie May"
Judges' votes to eliminate
  • Walsh: Robert Allen – backed his own act, 4Sure.
  • Osbourne: 4Sure – backed her own act, Robert Allen.
  • Cowell: 4Sure – stated that Allen had taken the panel's advice and improved his vocals.

Week 3 (28 October)

Cowell appeared on GMTV on the morning of Wednesday 25 October and said that "something big is going to happen this week that none of the contestants know about – a change that will shake some of them up." [8] It was revealed on the show that this surprise was to be a double elimination. The three acts with the fewest public votes were announced as the bottom three and then the act with the fewest votes was automatically eliminated. The remaining two acts then performed in the final showdown and faced the judges' votes.

Acts' performances on the third live show
ActOrderSongBig Band ArtistResult
Ray Quinn1"Ain't That a Kick in the Head" Dean Martin Safe
Dionne Mitchell2"For Once in My Life" Tony Bennett Eliminated (Fewest Public Votes)
Nikitta Angus3"Sway" Michael Bublé Safe
Ben Mills4"Smile" Charlie Chaplin
The MacDonald Brothers5"Can't Take My Eyes Off You" Andy Williams
Leona Lewis6"Summertime" George Gershwin
Kerry McGregor7"They Can't Take That Away from Me" Ella Fitzgerald Eliminated (Judges' Votes)
Ashley McKenzie8"Moondance" Van Morrison Bottom Three
Robert Allen9"Mr. Bojangles" Sammy Davis Jr. Safe
Eton Road10"Mack the Knife" Robbie Williams
Judges' votes to eliminate
  • Osbourne: Ashley McKenzie – backed her own act, Kerry McGregor.
  • Cowell: Kerry McGregor – backed his own act, Ashley McKenzie.
  • Walsh: Kerry McGregor – stated that McGregor had reached the limit of her abilities, whereas McKenzie still had potential to improve.

Week 4 (4 November)

Acts' performances on the fourth live show
ActOrderSongResult
Nikitta Angus1"Dancing Queen"Safe
Eton Road2"Does Your Mother Know"
Robert Allen3"Take a Chance on Me"Bottom Two
Leona Lewis4"Chiquitita"Safe
The MacDonald Brothers5"Fernando"
Ray Quinn6"Waterloo"
Ben Mills7"SOS"
Ashley McKenzie8"The Winner Takes It All"Eliminated
Judges' votes to eliminate
  • Osbourne: Ashley McKenzie – backed her own act, Robert Allen.
  • Cowell: Robert Allen – backed his own act, Ashley McKenzie.
  • Walsh: Ashley McKenzie – stated that Allen delivered a more polished performance on the night.

Week 5 (11 November)

Acts' performances on the fifth live show
ActOrderSongResult
Ben Mills1"I Don't Want to Miss a Thing"Safe
The MacDonald Brothers2"She's the One"
Ray Quinn3"Crazy Little Thing Called Love"Bottom Two
Nikitta Angus4"Last Dance"Eliminated
Eton Road5"From Me to You"Safe
Leona Lewis6"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"
Robert Allen7"Always and Forever"
Judges' votes to eliminate
  • Osbourne: Nikitta Angus – gave no reason.
  • Walsh: Ray Quinn – stated that Quinn did not have a strong enough voice to be a recording artist.
  • Cowell: Nikitta Angus – gave no reason but stated that neither act deserved to be in the bottom two.

Week 6 (18 November)

Acts' performances on the sixth live show
ActOrderSongResult
Ray Quinn1"Livin' la Vida Loca"Safe
Robert Allen2"You Are Not Alone"Eliminated
Eton Road3"I Don't Feel Like Dancin'"Bottom Two
Leona Lewis4"Bridge over Troubled Water"Safe
Ben Mills5"With a Little Help from My Friends"
The MacDonald Brothers6"Love Is All Around"
Judges' votes to eliminate
  • Osbourne: Eton Road – backed her own act, Robert Allen.
  • Walsh: Robert Allen – backed his own act, Eton Road.
  • Cowell: Robert Allen – stated that Eton Road could progress further in the competition than Allen.

Week 7 (25 November)

  • Theme: Songs from the movies
  • Musical guest: Il Divo ("Desde El Día Que Te Fuiste (Without You)")
  • Best bits song: "Never Forget"
Acts' performances on the seventh live show
ActOrderFirst songFilmOrderSecond songFilmResult
Leona Lewis1"Lady Marmalade" Moulin Rouge! 6"I Will Always Love You" The Bodyguard Safe
The MacDonald Brothers2"When You Say Nothing at All" Notting Hill 7"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" Benny & Joon
Ben Mills3"Live and Let Die" Live and Let Die 8"Your Song" Moulin Rouge! Bottom Two
Eton Road4"Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" The Blues Brothers 9"Can You Feel the Love Tonight" The Lion King Eliminated
Ray Quinn5"The Way You Look Tonight" Swing Time 10"Jailhouse Rock" Jailhouse Rock Safe
Judges' votes to eliminate
  • Walsh: Ben Mills – backed his own act, Eton Road.
  • Osbourne: Eton Road – backed her own act, Ben Mills.
  • Cowell: Eton Road – stated that Mills was more talented than Eton Road.

Week 8: Quarter-Final (2 December)

Acts' performances in the quarter-final
ActOrderFirst songOrderSecond songResult
The MacDonald Brothers1"Can't Smile Without You"5"Shang-a-lang"Eliminated
Ray Quinn2"Mandy"6"My Way"Safe
Ben Mills3"I Made It Through the Rain"7"Somebody to Love"
Leona Lewis4"Could It Be Magic"8"Without You"

The quarter-final did not feature a final showdown and instead the act with the fewest public votes, The MacDonald Brothers, were automatically eliminated.

Week 9: Semi-Final (9 December)

Acts' performances in the semi-final
ActOrderFirst songOrderSecond songResult
Ray Quinn1"Smile"4"You'll Never Walk Alone"Safe
Leona Lewis2"I Have Nothing"5"Over the Rainbow"
Ben Mills3"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You"6"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"Eliminated

The semi-final did not feature a final showdown and instead the act with the fewest public votes, Ben Mills, was automatically eliminated.

Week 10: Final (16 December)

Acts' performances in the final
ActOrderFirst songOrderSecond songDuet PartnerOrderThird songOrderFourth songResult
Ray Quinn1"My Way"3"That's Life" Westlife 5"Fly Me to the Moon"7"A Moment Like This"Runner-Up
Leona Lewis2"I Will Always Love You"4"A Million Love Songs" Take That 6"All by Myself"8"A Moment Like This"Winner

Winner's single

Winner Leona Lewis's debut single was "A Moment Like This", and was released on 20 December 2006. [10]

Reception

Ratings

EpisodeAir dateOfficial ITV1 rating [11] Weekly rank [11]
Auditions 119 August7.4511
Auditions 226 August7.3614
Auditions 32 September9.085
Auditions 49 September7.9611
Auditions 516 September7.5313
Auditions 623 September9.177
Bootcamp 130 September6.3922
Bootcamp 28.7610
Judges' houses 17 October6.7721
Judges' houses 28.959
Live show 114 October7.5215
Results 17.3817
Live show 221 October7.5419
Results 27.7018
Live show 328 October7.1021
Results 37.5218
Live show 44 November7.3020
Results 47.9119
Live show 511 November9.838
Results 58.2417
Live show 618 November9.2210
Results 68.8013
Live show 725 November8.4615
Results 78.6913
Live show 82 December9.3111
Results 88.2417
Live show 99 December8.3913
Results 98.2516
Live final16 December10.524
Live final results10.783
Series average20068.27

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The X Factor: Celebrity is a British celebrity special edition of The X Factor which premiered on 12 October 2019 on ITV. It is a revamped version of the 2006 celebrity format The X Factor: Battle of the Stars. Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh judged this series, with Dermot O'Leary presenting the series and Vick Hope hosting Xtra Bites on YouTube.

References

  1. "X Factor winner dreaming of Christmas number one". London Evening Standard . 17 December 2006. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  2. Taylor, Chris (24 December 2006). "X Factor's Leona Lewis Christmas Number One". EntertainmentWise. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  3. "X Factor's Leona has festive No 1". BBC News. 25 December 2006. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  4. "Top 40 Singles of 2006". BBC Radio 1. Archived from the original on 28 December 2008.
  5. "British single certifications – Leona Lewis – A Moment Like This". British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  6. Lane, Dan (20 December 2012). "The Top 10 biggest selling X Factor debut singles and albums revealed!". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  7. McGarry, Lisa (9 October 2006). "X Factor Rule Breaking….Again!". UnrealityTV. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  8. "Prepare for X Factor with a Surprise Twist This Weekend". The X Factor Blog. Retrieved 28 October 2006.
  9. "This week's theme is"
  10. "HMV.co.uk singles: A Moment Like This (2006)"
  11. 1 2 "Weekly Viewing Summary (see relevant week)". BARB. Archived from the original on 1 July 2014.