press pack 2014 - the itv hub x factor 2014.pdf · press pack . embargoed until 00.01 tuesday 26...

Embargoed until 00.01 Tuesday 26 August 2014 Embargoed until 00.01 Tuesday 26 August 2014

2014 PRESS PACK


CONTENTS

03 The X Factor returns to ITV

05 The Xtra Factor returns to ITV2

06 The X Factor Interactive

07 Dermot O’Leary interview

10 Simon Cowell interview

14 Cheryl Fernandez-Versini interview

17 Mel B interview

19 Louis Walsh interview

21 Sarah-Jane Crawford interview

23 Production credits

24 TalkTalk TV sponsors The X Factor


IT’S ABOUT TO GET

The UK’s biggest search for a

music superstar gets underway as

The X Factor returns to ITV this

Autumn.

Simon Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-

Versini, Mel B and Louis Walsh are

this year’s judges. Dermot O’Leary

returns as host

Free in-app voting for the first time

in X Factor history

The talent juggernaut, The X Factor, gets

back into action this autumn as the

competition scours all corners of the UK in

search of a singer worthy of landing a life

changing record contract.

The nation’s most talked about entertainment

show sees former ‘frenemies’ Simon Cowell

and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini reunited on the

judging panel. They are joined by new

signing, straight-talking Spice Girl Mel B, and

renowned music manager Louis Walsh, who

returns for another series. Expect drama,

banter and bickering as the all-new judging

panel set out to uncover star quality like

never before.

Dermot O’Leary returns to host the show,

presiding over all of the drama, tears, joy and

heartache, as well as lending the hopefuls a

much needed shoulder to cry on as they

perform in front of the most formidable panel

yet.

Performers will once again tackle two sets of

tough audition rounds – first the intimate

closed rooms in one of four cities –

Manchester, London, Newcastle and

Edinburgh. Should they impress and get

three or more yeses, they secure a spot to

sing at the SSE Arena, Wembley to prove

they can impress a live audience of

thousands. But the pressure won’t end there;

once through the arenas stage, the hopefuls

go through to Boot Camp and the return of

the tense ‘six chair challenge’, with each

chair representing a coveted place at their

category’s Judge’s House.

The hopefuls will be banded in one of four

categories – the Over 25s, the Groups, The

Boys and the Girls. For the first time since

2008, the competition has lowered its age

limit, with any performer over the age of 14

able to audition.

And for the first time in X Factor history fans

will be able to vote for free using The X

Factor App. The official app for the show,

available for iOS and Android smartphones

and tablets, will give users the opportunity to

yote for their favourite contestants, starting,

LOUDER!


from the live shows through to the live final.

This year’s live final, sponsored by TalkTalk,

will return to the SSE Arena, Wembley where

the lucky finalists will sing their hearts out in

front of an audience of 10,000, before the

winner of X Factor 2014 is crowned.

The X Factor has spawned numerous

worldwide music artists, creating more

international stars than any other TV talent

show. Artists discovered by The X Factor have

sold more than 160 million records worldwide

with the show’s alumni including One

Direction, Olly Murs, Leona Lewis, JLS, Little

Mix, Ella Henderson and Cher Lloyd.

For further information please email

[email protected] or contact:

•Rick Behari - [email protected]

•Justin Jeffreys - [email protected]

•Jenni Pain – [email protected]

•Hannah Lamden -

[email protected]

•Daisy Greenhead -

[email protected]

For images log onto: www.itvpictures.com

or Corbis

Contact: Shane Chapman - 020 7157 3043 /

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



THE XTRA FACTOR New host renowned DJ and

presenter Sarah-Jane Crawford

brings all of the backstage news,

gossip and reactions on The Xtra

Factor

As the new face of ITV 2’s The Xtra Factor,

Sarah-Jane has been tasked with getting up

close and personal with the new judging

panel of Simon Cowell, Cheryl Fernandez-

Versini, Mel B and Louis Walsh, as well as

this year’s contestants.

Bringing all of the exclusive backstage news

and access from the intimate judges’ rooms

to the live grand final, this year’s Xtra Factor

will be delving deeper than ever before.

As one of the UK’s most in-demand

presenters, Sarah Jane has quickly

established herself as a TV pro and DJ. She

currently hosts the afternoon show on one of

radio’s biggest urban music channels, BBC

Radio 1Xtra, as well as voicing MTV’s The

Official UK Urban Chart rundown. And now

as a massive fan of The X Factor, she will be

finding out all the xtra news that viewers want

to know.

Focused on bringing audiences all of the big

unseen moments, including never before

seen auditions and news, Sarah-Jane will be

putting her interviewing experience to the

test, asking the judges and contestants the

tricky questions everyone really wants the

answers to.

And as The X Factor goes live to the studio

The Xtra Factor is the only place where

viewers will have a chance to speak directly

to the judges and get all the immediate fall-

out from the show. With Sarah-Jane’s

enviable music knowledge, there will be a

series of special guests reviewing the

show’s headlines, and more gossip than

ever before.

Tweet about The Xtra Factor using:

#xtrafactor

The Xtra Factor, ITV2 – straight after The

X Factor on ITV

For further information on the show

please email:

Jenni Pain – [email protected]

Daisy Greenhead -

[email protected]


THE X FACTOR INTERACTIVE

Free in-app voting and full digital

offering keeps fans at the heart of

the show

Fans of The X Factor will be able to vote for

free for the first time ever in the show’s

history. The official app for the show,

available for iOS and Android smartphones

and tablets, will give users the opportunity to

vote for their favourite contestants, starting

from the live shows through to the live finals.

The award-winning in-app voting platform,

developed in partnership with Tectonic

Interactive and Tellybug, gives fans even

more ways to engage with and influence one

of the most popular entertainment TV shows

in the UK. As part of the core proposition, the

app provides exclusive content, quizzes,

games, and the new and improved “Fifth

Judge” feature, where users can predict

which acts will make it through each stage

and give real-time feedback on each

performance during the show. The app has

been downloaded 1.6 million times and is

sponsored by Domino’s.

The X Factor is already the biggest talent

show on social media: 8.5 million likes on

Facebook, 5 million Twitter followers, 87,000

followers on Instagram, and over 2 billion

views on the official YouTube channel.

Throughout this series both The X Factor app

and the website at itv.com/thexfactor will

bring fans the latest news, photo galleries

and exclusive backstage access to the judges

and contestants. There will be exclusive

behind-the-scenes video content including

backstage interviews with the new X Factor

online presenter, Luke Franks. Luke is an

award-winning radio and TV presenter with

his own show on The Hits Radio. He's also

one of the line-up on CITV's Scrambled and

has interviewed hundreds of pop stars

including the Vamps, Union J, Katy Perry and

Rixton.

ABOUT THE X FACTOR VOTING

•You can vote by downloading the free iOS or

Android version of official The X Factor app

on your smartphone or tablet

•Clear voting instructions appear within the

app

•You can vote a maximum of 5 times within

any voting window

•Votes can be used on any one contestant, or

combination of contestants

For further information, please contact:

•Charlotte Partleton, ITV, 0207 157 3056 /

[email protected]

•Ben Todd, Syco Entertainment, 020 7361

8609 / [email protected]

•Belinda Thomas-Dunphy, FremantleMedia,

0207 691 6911

[email protected]

@TheXFactor #xfactor

facebook.com/TheXFactor

Instagram: thexfactoruk

YouTube.com/TheXFactorUk





DERMOT O’LEARY Dermot O'Leary's television and radio work

has made him a household name. He has

been at the helm of The X Factor since 2007

and also hosts his own award-winning BBC

Radio 2 show every Saturday, which has

won three Sony Radio Awards.

Dermot has also chaired the debate and

interviewed party leaders for First Time

Voters Question Time on BBC Three,

presents Unicef's SoccerAid, and is host of

the National Television Awards. In March

2014 Dermot hosted the ground-breaking

'Live from Space' season on Channel 4.

What do you think the new panel each bring

to the table?

It’s a good panel, it really is. Mel for me is

almost like a mini Sharon Osbourne, in that she

is kind of un-produceable, which I love. It

doesn’t matter what anyone says to her, she

knows her own mind. And I think you need

someone like that on the panel, you need

someone who will make their decision

instinctively and shoots from the hip. Cheryl is

incredibly insightful, and emotionally engaging,

and really intelligent. Simon brings brutal

honesty and you need that, because this is an

audition process. Louis for me brings an

encyclopaedic music knowledge, and say what

you want about him but he knows how to put a

band together. Also, he’s not afraid of making

decisions that won’t make him popular with the

people.

How often do you find yourself disagreeing

with the judges’ decisions?

I’m a soft touch; I wouldn’t say I’d put everyone

through, but you get to know people and you get

to know their families and the fact that they do

jobs that they don’t particularly want to do and

they have a fair degree of talent. So when

you see someonewhose audition doesn’t go that

well I do feel quite bad for them.

Simon is back on the show and Mel B is

known for her feisty opinions – how are you

going to keep the judges in check during the

lives?

I can’t wait for the live shows, because I like it

when the panel has disagreements, and when it

kicks off, because that’s what I’m there for.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t like it when they go

below the belt, or they start saying nasty things

to each other, or they have disagreements in the

press, I’m not a big fan of any of that. But I like it

in studio when all’s fair in love and war, and

then when it finishes, we have a drink together.

What’s the overall dynamic between them?

It’s really early doors in terms of dynamic; Mel B

and Cheryl have a great understanding and get

on very well at the moment. But they all work

very well as a team – Mel B has a clear

definition as to what she wants and Louis is

brilliant because you can put him with anyone.


Which judges are you expecting to clash

the most, have you noticed any

disagreements yet?

I think Simon and Cheryl will clash a fair bit in

studio, and I think Mel B will clash with

anyone. Louis digs his heels in about the

strangest things – it could be an outfit, a song

choice, someone’s hair, it’s never something

particularly controversial.

How competitive do you think they are

feeling this year?

At this stage in the competition it’s about

finding the best talent. The ante gets upped

when the categories get revealed and

especially when we get to studio.

You’re first on hand to console the acts

who don’t make it through – would you

say that’s the hardest part of your role on

the show?

At the moment the hardest part of my role on

the show is definitely when the acts come off

and they haven’t done too well. But then it’s

quite hard because they’re not really

listening, all they’re doing is mulling over their

audition. Sometimes you can have a good

conversation with someone, and try to

contextualise it, and other times you could be

saying anything to them.

Do a lot of the contestants come to you

for advice once the show is underway?

I always do a pep talk before we start. People

that get to the last three in this show are the

hardest working, the most talented, and the

most honest. There’s nothing that drives me

nuts more than when someone gives me the

answer they think I want rather than how

they’re feeling; and people worry about how

they’re going to be perceived. There’s nothing

worse than being perceived in any other way

than being honest and who you are. The

people that do well in this show are the

people that are true to themselves.

This is your eighth series on the show –

what are your favourite memories from

throughout the years?

I get asked that a lot and I could have this

conversation in five minutes time and give you

a completely different answer because stuff

just keeps popping into my head. I love those

moments in studio where you’re not quite

entirely sure something has happened – it

invariably involves more colourful contestants,

so Wagner doing Love Shack, Jedward doing

Ghostbusters. But then I love the moments

where someone will just pick up an audition

song and absolutely sing – I remember Ella

Henderson’s first audition was out of this

world, James Arthur I remember watching

grow, and the same with Olly. The show is

about getting people to flourish that, for one

reason or another the stars haven’t aligned for.

For me, it’s about seeing an Ella Henderson,

seeing a James Arthur, seeing an Olly Murs,

come on and blow an audience away.

What sort of acts would you like to see

more of on the show?

To be honest I think we’ve got it pretty well

covered – you always have a hangover from

the year or two before. At the moment we’re

seeing a lot of boys pick up guitars because of

James Arthur or people who are popular at the

moment, like Ed Sheeran. You always see that

aftershock effect. For me, you’ve got to have

diversity, and that’s what Boot Camp’s all

about – what’s so interesting is that people

who turn up and have done a great audition, it

turns out they’re not the only great person.

Sarah-Jane Crawford is the new host of

Xtra Factor, have you given her any tips or

advice on how to handle the world of X

Factor?

I’ve just said ‘if you need me I’m there’ and she

seems to be getting on really well. Eight years

ago it wasn’t the show it is now, but I

remember coming on then and thinking ‘wow,

I’m working on the biggest show in television’

and it’s quite a step up, and it’s a huge circus.

You can’t over think it though, you just have to

enjoy it and have fun.


Which artist out there at the moment

best sums up what the X Factor is all

about for you?

I love the Lana Del Rey album and I saw her

at Glastonbury, I think she’s just got ‘it.’

What’s the hardest thing about being

The X Factor host?

It’s a brilliant job and I love it. I guess the

hardest thing is that you get a relationship

with people, you see them grow, but only

one can win. Along the way, you have to

say goodbye to people who you have got to

know well, and you’ve got to know their

families well. You would hope they use the

experience wisely and get something out of

it, and no matter what happens they can

carry on and enjoy singing.


SIMON COWELL

Simon Cowell is, amongst other things,

a record company executive, a

television and film producer…and a

global TV star. Renowned for his sharp

eye for talent and candid opinions,

Simon Cowell has completely

transformed popular culture in the

21st century, through his TV and music

interests.

Cowell’s company, Syco Entertainment,

is a world-renowned music, film, and

television production company

responsible for some of the most

successful global music and television

franchises.

Syco’s television assets include the

two international TV phenomenon

formats: Got Talent and The X Factor.

This year, Syco Music was named the

No.1 A&R label in the UK, for both

singles and albums. To date, Cowell

has worked with artists who have sold

more than 350 million records.

For his charitable work, Cowell has

been awarded Variety International’s

Humanitarian Award.

So Simon how does it feel to be back in

the UK for this series?

It actually feels really good to be back in

the UK. I think in a weird way it’s good I’ve

had a break from the show, I’ve watched

the show from a distance and now I feel

like I’m back in control again. I like it.

What are you most excited about?

The one thing that always excites

me about doing the show here is the fact

that

we have discovered stars from it in the past.

And there’s always that feeling when you’re

on the panel that you’re going to find a new

star. I don’t know who they’re going be,

where they’re going to come from but it’s that

that excites me the most.

What did you miss most about the show

while you were away?

You miss British contestants. I’ve always

thought on these shows, for whatever reason,

the best people have come from Britain. You

can take people like Leona Lewis or One

Direction or Olly Murs, JLS, Ella Henderson,

Cher Lloyd, they’ve all come from the show

and gone on to have big careers. So we’re

lucky the show does attract people who do

want to be big recording artists, rather than

wanting to win a singing competition – there

is a difference.

What’s going to be different about this

year?

I think you’re going to hear a different kind of

singer this year. The show is going to look

different in terms of the line up. I’ve done the


small room auditions already, and then

we’re going back to arenas, which is the

real test. I’ve already seen 5 or 6 people

that have got massive potential. Some of

these people, when you put them in front

of the big crowds, they fall apart. And on

the show this year there are a lot of

hurdles to overcome. You’ve got to go

from the small room to the arena to the six

chair challenge, which I think is a great

addition. Then you’ve got to do the judges’

houses visit, then you make it on the live

shows. So anyone who gets to the live

shows, they’ve earned their spot.

How competitive are you and the other

judges feeling this year?

You don’t get competitive until you get

your category. At that point, for whatever

reason, you almost forget about the artists

at that point – it’s so much about you

winning. Or so much about someone else

not winning – it’s about your competitive

nature, which is why you put competitive

people on the show because if you don’t

want to win, it’s kind of a boring show.

How does it feel to be reunited with

Cheryl?

It feels good to be reunited with Cheryl, I’ll

be honest with you. She’s been on good

form. It’s almost like the last four years

disappeared. We just picked it up straight

away. She’s been fun and annoying, but

good to be with.

Cheryl said she came back after a lot of

grovelling. What did you say to

persuade her to come back?

We had a lot of conversations before

Cheryl agreed to come back. But what was

interesting, was that once we got past

whatever we had to get past, we then

started talking about the show and we

reminded ourselves of the past series we

made which was a great series. It’s how

we wanted to recapture that again, and

make a show which is fun, big and most

importantly find a star, or maybe more

than one star.

There’ve been claims you want to have

more of the colourful acts like Jedward

and Wagner in the show this year, is

there any truth in that?

Do you know what, the trouble is on

this show there is a massive rumour mill

and everything gets distorted. I never

wanted Jedward on the show in the first

place, and it was Louis who put them

there. I think it’s good to have interesting

people on the show, I’d rather have

someone with personality than a boring

person with a good voice. One thing I love

about the show is that it does make crazy

mistakes. But in the end, the right people

normally win. Most of the time.

And we’ve heard that you’ve been

winding Cheryl up during auditions.

Has she tried to get her own back on

you?

I’ve wound her up a lot in the auditions. I

mean she’s so easy to wind up, like a fish

taking the bait. But like I said, she’s been

on good form, and she’s got a good sense

of humour. I’ve always said I find the

audition process hard. And she’s found it

hard. But for whatever reason she’s

enjoyed it and we’ve had a good time.

Is there a particular type of contestant

you’re looking for this year; a specific

genre or category?

I’m not interested in a sob-story, I mean

seriously, I’m just so over them. I always

say the same thing. I want someone who

can become a star in this country, but just

as importantly, can become a star in other

countries. You want somebody who’s

different, you don’t want a second rate

version of someone who’s already out

there, but you want somebody who’s

different from anyone else in the charts at

the moment.

The show’s called The X Factor for a

reason because you have to have so


much to do well from this show. You have to

have a great voice, you’ve got to have

personality, you’ve got to have charisma,

and you’ve got to want to be a star, you’ve

got to have that hunger. And that’s what I’ve

seen over the years with contestants – why

certain people don’t do well, and why certain

people do really well.

You’ve brought Louis back to the show

for his 11th consecutive series. What do

you think he brings to the show that

nobody else does?

Louis brings madness to the show. I’ve

known Louis for about 15 years, he’s a

nutcase, and he has a very different view of

the world than I do. But that’s what I find

interesting about Louis; he is an optimist,

whereas I can be a bit cynical. But he loves

music. He loves doing the show; I mean if

he had a tail he’d be wagging it. And the

one thing you forget about Louis is that he is

a really good manager. I mean he’s sold

over 100million records – you don’t do that

with luck, you do it because you’re smart.

And I think sometimes he tries to hide the

fact that he is smart and cunning. Then

there are times when I’m sitting there

thinking I have no idea why you’re sitting

here next to me. So that’s our relationship.

And what’s it like working with Mel, what

kind of judge is she?

I wasn’t sure whether Mel was going to fit in

or not, but within 5 minutes I got her. She

brings an incredible energy to the show.

She isn’t a judge for hire, which a lot of

people are nowadays. She loves the show

and is really interested in the mentoring

aspect of the show, because she did the

show in Australia where she did a good job.

Plus she’s really fun to be around, although

I get why she’s called Scary!

So Mel B is known for her straight

talking approach, as you are, as well.

Who do you think contestants have

found more intimidating ?

I don’t know if it’s a question of whether

contestants find me or Mel more

intimidating, I think more about who they

would like to please – and that’s normally

me.

This year you’re back in the audition

room. What do you prefer – the room

or the arenas?

I found the first day a nightmare going

back to the small room, because you’re

so close to the contestant, only 8ft away,

I had a real problem about laughing when

I shouldn’t laugh. I think it’s really

intimidating, for the contestant and for us.

I think the good thing about the small

room is you definitely get to know more

about them because they’re not playing

to a crowd. You get to know more about

their personality, you can probably make

a better judgement call. But I like the fact

they have to go through the next stage,

from the small room into the arena,

because you see both sides of them.

Some people will shine and some people

will fall to pieces.

What’s your biggest audition turn off?

I think it’s normally a boyband that’s been

put together by a manager, and told what

to wear, what to say, they all come

running in and everything they say is

scripted, and they pretend to laugh at

each other’s jokes, I hate that. I’d rather

find something much more raw – like we

had with One Direction. We had 5

talented guys, we never once said ‘wear

this, say this, do this’ – they had that

relationship. That’s my most annoying

thing – I loathe those people.

The age limit’s been lowered to 14 this

year. Do you think that someone this

young can cope with the pressure of

being on the show?

On Britain’s Got Talent we’ve had no age

limits, we’ve had really young people do

well on the show. You have to make a

judgement call before you put teenagers

in front of us, about whether they can

cope with it or not. When they come to

see us, we can make a pretty good call


as to whether we think they’re too young

or too inexperienced. On the other hand

we’ve had really good 14 / 15 year olds,

who are better and more assured than

some of the 30 year olds.

Which artists out there at the moment

best sums up The X factor?

I don’t want to sound biased, but I think

Ella Henderson is a really good example

of how an artist and a show can work

really well together, because we could

have released her music in 6 months. We

waited for two years, and she came

6th on the show. She represents

everything that’s great about this country,

about the show, and how the label can

help someone become a big, big star. I’m

really proud of what she’s achieved, and

she’s a great ambassador for the show.

The last time you were on the show,

you found One Direction, Rebecca

Ferguson, Cher Lloyd amongst others,

do you think the talent will be as

strong this year?

Well when we did the show last time, we

had talented people but we also helped

talented people do things they weren’t

expecting. Cheryl did a great job with

Cher Lloyd, I did a great job with One

Direction, and Cheryl again with Rebecca

Ferguson, who I love – she’s a great

singer. And Danni did a good job with the

winner. That was the year we really felt it

was competitive and everybody was

trying hard. That points out the show that

we devised in the first place – it was

meant to help and encourage the artists

rather that just sit and criticise people

without having a say in what they do.


CHERYL FERNANDEZ-VERSINI

Successful pop star. Fashion icon. Charity

founder. Television personality. Award

winner. If anyone’s got The X Factor, it’s

Cheryl.

Primarily, Cheryl is known as being one of

the UK’s biggest female singers. Her

successful solo singing career began with

the release of debut single Fight For This

Love in October 2009. Since then, Cheryl

has had a further three number one

singles, including her recent hit Crazy

Stupid Love, and also topped the charts

with her first two solo albums.

Cheryl rose to fame as a fifth of Girls

Aloud, the most successful UK girlband of

the 21st century as well as the most

successful band to come out of a reality TV

show. After coming together on Popstars:

The Rivals, Girls Aloud went on to have

four number one singles, five sell out arena

tours and six platinum selling albums.

Cheryl will be releasing her new album,

Only Human later this year.

Welcome back! What made you decide to

come back to the show this year and how

does it feel to be back?

Well aside from a lot of begging and grovelling

on Mr Cowell’s part, it just felt like the right

time to come back. I’d had enough time away

to appreciate it and get really excited to find

new talent again.

Did you have any first day nerves when you

started the auditions again or was it like

riding a bike?

This time it was like riding a bike. The first time

I did it I was terrified, but this time I was more

excited.

Is there a particular type of contestant

you are looking for this year – a specific

genre, category, or music style

perhaps?

I’m always looking for somebody fresh. I’m

never looking for the next whoever; the

next Justin Beiber, the next One Direction. I

want somebody to come in that we don’t

quite know if we get it or not. Something

fresh that we haven’t got. You once described Simon as your

‘frenemy’ – do you still think of him like

that? How would you describe your

relationship with him now?

I think Simon’s a bit like an annoying

brother. We’re like brother and sister and

he’s the annoying one.

We’ve heard that Simon has been

winding you up during filming for the

auditions – what’s he been doing and

have you got your own back?

Simon has his very own way of being very

annoying. He knows which buttons to push

and he’ll push them, and push them, and

push them. But I play the long game. I’m

waiting. Don’t worry about me, I’ll get my

own back.


So much is written about your wardrobe,

do you look forward to planning your X

Factor look or is it a daunting process

given the huge focus there is on it?

When I first started X Factor it was never

focused on what the judges wore, it was about

the contestants. I try and remember that’s what

it’s all about. It’s not about what clothes I’m

wearing. Obviously I like to feel nice and wear

nice clothes, I’m a girly girl, so when it comes

to the live shows I like to wear the sparkly

dresses. But mainly it’s about the contestants

for me and if people enjoy my dress that’s

nice.

Have there been any disagreements with

your fellow judges so far? Tell us about

the dynamics.

I think it would be uninteresting and not real if

we didn’t disagree. Obviously it’s human

nature and you feel different things for different

people. So there’s been different points of view

and disagreements.

Which artist out there at the moment sums

up what the X Factor is all about for you?

I think Ed Sheeran’s definitely got the X Factor.

The guy is a superstar. He writes amazing

lyrics. His collaborations are spot on. His

videos are fun. He’s unexpected, he’s not

commercially what you would think of. He’s

somebody that I would die for if he arrived at

The X Factor to audition.

You’ve been known to get emotional during

auditions - have you cried in any of the

auditions so far, what has been the most

emotional audition for you?

I have been moved in the auditions this series;

it’s impossible to not feel human emotion

where you’re that close to somebody. I was

reunited with somebody I had on the first

series I did (in 2008), and it was an emotional

experience. So yes I have been touched this

time around a couple of times but it’s not

something I’m ashamed of or something I shy

away from.

What are you most excited about for this

year’s series? What are you hoping to

see?

I hope this year we see somebody fresh and

very different, and somebody that we can

take around the world and say ‘this is a

great ambassador for what we do.’

How’s the show going to be different this

year?

I think the show is different this year

because we’ve changed a few of the format

points, and obviously the panel changes

everything because you’ve got different

dynamics, and we choose things for

different reasons and are attracted to

different people. Me and Simon have always

had that good chemistry where we bounce

off each other. Also, being back in the

rooms and finding good characters that you

can take to an audience, and seeing

whether they agree with us, makes a

difference. I haven’t yet, and I don’t want to

but unfortunately I’m going to have to,

experience this chair business [the six chair

challenge at Boot Camp], where I have to

switch people around in chairs which is

making me feel physically ill at the thought!

You started out on a show like this and

have said in the past you can relate to

the contestants’ nerves on the day –

what advice would you have for

contestants on how to impress the

panel, particularly Simon?

Don’t try and impress Simon, stop it! The

moment you put that pressure on yourself

and he says something that isn’t what you

want to hear it’s going to break your

confidence. You should go out there to

prove to all of us. Just relax, and be

confident, but don’t walk that line of

cockiness. Once I get the acts as a mentor,

I’ll sit them down individually and tell them

that.

As you and Mel B have both come from

girl groups, do you have similar opinions

in terms of what you’re looking for from

a group?

We do and a lot of the time Mel says things


and I think ‘that’s exactly how I would put it,

that’s exactly how I feel.’ Not only about

groups, just in general, I agree with a lot of

the things she says and thinks. She has a

very good way of putting things. She’s a bit

more blunt than I am in her approach, which

I love. But definitely when it comes to the

girl groups we have the same answer about

what it takes to be a girl group.

How have you found it working with Mel

B. Did you know her before working on

the panel together?

I’ve met Mel a few times briefly – I went to

the Spice Girls reunion and saw her

backstage. We’ve passed like that, but I’d

never actually sat down and had a deep

conversation or worked with her before, and

we just gelled really quickly. Maybe that’s

from being part of a girl group – it’s easy to

slide into having camaraderie with another

girl. She’s a girl’s girl like that so I’ve

enjoyed working with her.

You’ve previously described things as

being ‘frosty’ between you and Louis –

have things thawed?

Louis is Louis.

How was it going home to Newcastle for

auditions? What would it mean to find a

winner from there?

I was actually really proud and really

pleased by the Newcastle auditions, we’ve

never gone up there. There was some really

good talent, there’s one person in particular

I can’t wait to see at the arenas. If I get

another contestant from Newcastle,

because I had Joe (McElderry) previously, it

would be very exciting.

How competitive are you and the other

judges feeling this year?

I’m feeling more competitive than I ever

have. By nature I’m not a competitive

person. But this time I’m feeling more

competitive than ever.

What’s the biggest ‘audition turn off’ for

you?

The biggest audition ‘turn off’ is when they

come in the room and they try and kiss you,

or they come in and break-dance before

they’ve introduced themselves. Doing what

they think you want them to do is a big no

no for me - I want things to be authentic.

What are the toughest things about

being an X Factor judge?

The toughest thing about being an X

Factor judge is being the person to tell

somebody you don’t think that they’re

ready for their dream. That’s tough, that’s

horrible. Judges’ houses, all that business,

is tough.


MEL B Hailing from the world’s best selling

female girl group of all time and the

cultural phenomenon that was the Spice

Girls, Mel B has notched up a stunning

80 million record sales worldwide,

including nine UK number ones. She

also has five prestigious BRIT Awards to

her name.

Mel also adds television personality and

entrepreneur to her list of ever

expanding credits. She appeared as a

guest judge on The X Factor in 2012 and

is a judge on the current season of hit

NBC show America’s Got Talent.

How would you describe yourself as a

judge?

As a judge I would like to think that I’m just

really honest. I just call it how it is and

whatever I see and whatever I feel, I just

express that.

Have there been any disagreements with

your fellow judges?

I think with the other judges we’re always

kind of going to either agree, or disagree or

agree to disagree. It just is what it is. We’re

not always going to think the same.

How have you found the rooms

compared to the arenas? What do you

think the difference is for the acts?

I think in the audition room it’s very nerve

wracking for the contestants because it’s us

four and them. It’s almost like being in

prison, with us four. Who would want to be

in that situation! But then in the arenas they

really get that feedback from the audience,

they get to entertain us and the crowd. So

that’s a whole different level.

What is your biggest audition turn off?

My biggest audition turn off is when the

contestants go ‘come on everybody join

in, clap your hands’. I’m like ‘uhhh no’.

Which artist out there for you has the

X Factor?

There are so many different artists out

there that have the X Factor, from your

Rhiannas, your Katy Perrys, Rita Oras.

There’s a bunch of strong independent

females out there that I love.

Is there any particular kind of

contestant you’re looking for this

year; a genre, category or style?

All the categories this year are really

strong. What I like in a contestant is for

them to be likeable. As well as having an

amazing voice, they have to be likeable,

humble almost.

How do you think the Spice Girls

would have fared on a show like this?

Oh god, I don’t know how the Spice Girls

would have worked out if they auditioned


for this show. I’d like to think they would

get through, but I don’t know.

What advice do you have for any

aspiring wannabes auditioning this

year?

I think for anybody auditioning you’ve just

got to really believe in yourself and show

your commitment, show your passion and

work on your voice and your vocal. Turn up

and do the best job possible.

How competitive are you and the judges

this year?

I think all of the judges are very

competitive. Especially this year…oh

yeah.

You’re known for your straight talking

approach. Who do you think the

contestants have found more

intimidating, you or Simon?

I think all four of us are quite intimidating. I

think a lot of people out of the gate are

scared of Simon, but I don’t know about

me. I think they really like me…NOT!

How has it been working with Cheryl?

If she was in the Spice Girls what would

her nickname be?

For a start I absolutely adore Cheryl.

She’s gorgeous, she’s an artist, she’s

confident, she’s strong, everything I love in

a woman, she is fabulous. What would her

Spice Girl name be? Probably something

obvious like Geordie Spice.

And what about Simon and Louis’ Spice

Girl nicknames?

Louis for sure would be nutty Spice,

because he’s a little bit out there.

Simon…I don’t want to say anything about

Simon because I don’t want to get fired, so

I’ll leave that one blank!

Are you ready for the inevitable

wardrobe wars when the live shows

begin?

I think the wardrobe wars are what

everyone else makes out of it out there.

Between me and Cheryl, we just like

dressing up and having a bit of fun and

that’s it.

Is working with Simon Cowell what

you expected it would be?

I’ve known Simon for quite some time,

so you kind of know what you’re getting

yourself in to. It’s a little bit

unpredictable; he can be unpredictable

here and there, which we all can. But

overall I love him, he’s great.

Is there someone you’ve already

earmarked as a winner from the

auditions you’ve done so far?

During the whole audition process there

are so many winners in there. It is

going to be really hard for us to decide,

so I’m really glad it’s the audience and

viewers who decide.

What’s the hardest thing about being

an X Factor judge?

Probably one of the hardest things

about being an X factor judge is saying

no to kids. That’s always tough as I

have kids of my own. But they’re young

enough that they can still carry on and

work on their craft.


LOUIS WALSH Louis Walsh is the undisputed king of the

Irish pop scene. He is the man behind

some of the most successful bands in

pop history, masterminding the careers of

Boyzone, Westlife, Samantha Mumba,

Girls Aloud and of course Jedward.

The fact that he has achieved over a

staggering 28 No.1 hits is a testament to

his success and is one of the reasons why

he is so respected in the music industry.

He has appeared as a judge on every

series of The X Factor.

You’re back for another series, what are

you most looking forward to this year?

Having Simon Cowell back. I think he’s going

to be different, I think he’s going to be fun, I

think there’s going to be sparks between

Simon, Cheryl and Mel B. That’s the best

thing about the show – Simon being back.

How does it feel to be reunited with Simon

on the panel?

Honestly, Simon just makes me laugh. He

just walks in the room and I’m laughing, I

can’t explain why, but for some reason he

always makes me laugh. He gets the best out

of everyone, he makes everyone work. But

it’s not as if we sit there laughing all day, he

always wants people to give more. He always

says ‘you can do better than that.’ When I

used to work with him with Westlife he would

always say ‘you can do better’.

How have you found this year’s panel?

This year is fantastic. This was meant to be.

There’s good chemistry between all of us.

Simon and Cheryl are very funny always

annoying each other. Mel is just honest. This

is the perfect X Factor panel, it really is.

How competitive are you all feeling this

year?

We’re going to be very competitive this year.

Everybody wants to win the show. Simon

thinks he’s going to win win, Cheryl wants to

win, Mel thinks ‘I’m going to show them what

I’m made of.’ I’ve been there 11 years, I know

what to do. We’re all competitive and we all

want to win. But I’m going to win.

Is there a judge on the panel you think

you disagree with more than most?

I think I’ll probably disagree with all of the

judges on the panel, because I’m a manager.

They’re artists and Simon’s an A &R man. I

think I’ll disagree with all of them because I

always look for different things. I think

probably Simon and I would agree more than

anybody else. The girls always talk about the

vocal but it’s not always about the voice.

You’re the only judge to have appeared

across every series of the show – what

keeps the show exciting for you?

I think this year having Simon back is the

most exciting thing. When he’s around


everyone is better. Everyone works harder. We

always have to prove why we’re there. He

demands more. He’s sitting there looking at

everything. He takes everything in. He scans

the room.

In all of your years on the show, which of

the show’s alumni have made the biggest

impression on you in their first auditions?

To be honest, I always remember JLS in their

first audition. When they walked in they were

the perfect group. Not just vocally, but mentally

and the way they worked together. I loved

working with a lot of other people – Shane

Ward, Jedward for different reasons. But the

most perfect act for me was JLS.

What is the biggest audition ‘turn off’ for

you?

The biggest audition ‘turn off’ for me is when

people talk themselves up. Why they’re here,

what they’re going to do, everything, and then

they don’t deliver. They can’t sing, they can’t

perform. There’s no X Factor. That’s the worst

thing. I’m always looking for potential. Potential

is the key word. If they’re not a great singer –

can they improve? And the likeability. We use

that word a lot but likeability is so important.

What are your favourite memories from

being on the show across the years?

My favourite memories are working with

Simon, because he winds me up. He does it

on a daily basis. I love working with him and

watching what makes his mind work – always

thinking ‘what’s he thinking, what’s he noticed.’

Working with Simon is great, but I also had

some really funny moments with Sharon

Osbourne. I’ve enjoyed working with all the

judges.

If you could pick one X Factor contestant

who you think defines what The X Factor is,

who would it be?

Olly Murs – he’s a massive star now. He didn’t

win the show but he had the X Factor. He

really had it and he has a great work ethic.

Also Rebecca Ferguson, when her record

comes on the radio you know it’s her, and

that’s what the X Factor is all about.

In the past few series you’ve had a bit of a

style makeover What’s your secret?

I’m getting older, as is Simon! I have to look

after myself. I have a really good stylist called

Caroline who looks after me, and I have a

really good hair and make up artist called

Anna and she works her magic. So the

secret? Anna and Caroline.

You’ve become famous over the series for

your catchphrases; can we expect any

new gems?

I use the catchphrases as a joke – ‘you

remind me of a young Lenny Henry or a

young Michael Buble’ – and all that type of

stuff. But I know what I’m doing and it usually

makes the other people laugh on the show.

So why not? People expect it.

Is there a particular type of contestant you

are looking for this year – a specific

genre, category, or music style perhaps?

This year we’re looking for stars. They can’t

just be good contestants. We need recording

artists. We need people who are going to sell

records all around the world.

Which artist out there at the moment best

sums up what the X Factor is all about?

I’m looking at the charts every single week

and the artist I like most at the moment is Ed

Sheeran, because he’s got the songs and he

has got the likeability. Maybe Paolo Nutini as

well as the singer/song writer thing is really

in. But I watch the charts every week – I

know everyone in the charts in the UK and

America.

What are the toughest things about being

an X Factor judge?

Telling people ‘no, you’re not good enough.’

It’s a very hard thing to say to people,

because they come in and they think they’ve

got it all. Then they perform and it’s just

ordinary. We get an awful lot of good people,

and good people are the worse because

they’re not bad, they’re just OK, and they

don’t have the star quality; they don’t have

the X Factor.


SARAH-JANE CRAWFORD

The current leading lady of BBC Radio

1Xtra, Sarah-Jane Crawford is one of the

most popular figures in UK radio, holding

record audience figures for the Monday to

Friday afternoon timeslot. Sarah hosted

the backstage coverage of BBC Radio 1’s

Big Weekend, and then fronted BBC

Three’s coverage of ‘T in the Park’

alongside Greg James.

In the last few years, Sarah-Jane has

begun to explore the world of DJing,

taking to the decks in some of the world’s

most trendsetting cities including

Warsaw, New York, Los Angeles, St.

Tropez and Hong Kong. This is Sarah

Jane’s first year as presenter on The Xtra

Factor.

Congratulations on the new job! How

excited are you about your new role?

I’m so excited about the new role. It’s a

dream job. When I found out I was at the gym

getting a protein shake and my agent called

me and told me I got the job, I screamed and

everyone thought I had bought a dodgy

protein shake. I just keep reminding myself to

enjoy it while it’s happening rather than

thinking ahead to the live shows.

What are you most excited about?

There are so many elements to this job that

it’s difficult to pin point what I’m most excited

about. It’s exciting to meet the auditionees

because you’re potentially meeting the

winner or a big star… You don’t know where

they’re going to end up. I’m excited about

judges’ houses because why wouldn’t you be

excited to travel to glamorous locations

around the world. And ultimately I’m really

excited about the live shows because I’m a

massive fan of the show.

How do you think Xtra Factor will be

different from previous series?

I just think it will be sassy, there’s going to

be way more banter. I’ve got the

opportunity to bounce off the new judges

and I think this year there’ll be lots more

music credibility, we all really know our

stuff. And of course the return of Simon

and Cheryl which you cannot beat!

Before joining the show you were a

massive fan of the series – who’s your

favourite contestant from over the

years?

As a massive fan I have watched every

series, one of my favourite contestants

was Ray Quinn… I don’t know what it was

about him. I used to work on a door of a

club on Saturday nights so I couldn’t watch

the final that year and I remember not

wanting anyone to tell me. I made it to

Sunday evening and was sat on the sofa, I

felt like it was live and then one of my

friends text me and said ‘Thank God that

Ray didn’t win.’


What’s it been like working with the

judges? Have you learnt anything

surprising or interesting about any of

them?

Working with the judges is fascinating. Simon

Cowell is such a fascinating person. He is the

kind of guy who would win a poker game every

time because you never know what’s going on.

I’m always trying to find out more info. I’ve

found out that Simon’s dogs get more retweets

and favourites than a Twitter post about me

which we did together, which was really

annoying. I’ve found out that Cheryl knows her

hip hop from when she recited Kayne West

lyrics to me. Mel B loves a bit of Boot Camp….

she is really fit. And Louis is a massive fan of

art.

Did Dermot give you any advice before you

started?

I love Dermot! It wasn’t so much advice, just

more reassurance just saying ‘how is it going’.

He’s always got nicknames for everyone.

He basically taught me the Dermot hug…

there’re 3 different kinds of hugs. I go more for

the high five though because I don’t want to rip

off the Dermot hug.

What have been your stand-out moments

from the auditions tour so far?

There’s a girl band who came in with their own

song, their own t-shirts and there’s something

about them - they’ve got massive potential so I

can’t wait to see their journey. They’re not

completely polished but they’re so young and

they created this amazing track. Another stand

out moment includes baby oil and someone

doing a tribute to Peter Andre with Mysterious

Girl, that was very fun. And the lady who did a

poem about the judges. Let’s just say I came

out alright, but Simon didn’t.

Do you ever find yourself disagreeing with

the judges’ decisions when you watch the

auditions?

Yes! They are hardcore this year, they are not

at all just letting anyone through. Even people

who are amazing, they’re still unsure about.

There’s no one in particular but they all have

their moments. Simon is obviously harsh and

Cheryl is a lot more hardcore this year and Mel

– that’s just her personality. She is always

like ‘you better impress me’.

As a viewer what is your favourite stage of

the show to watch?

Honestly, every element - the way it’s broken

down. The room auditions are very special

when it’s just the contestants and the judges

and when I watch back some of the

contestants - I did it with Sam Bailey - there’s

just something magical about knowing how

someone’s very first audition went. Judges’

houses, it’s very exciting to see where they

go and the live shows - you don’t even need

to explain that. Live is my favourite form of

TV - anything can happen.

Are there any types of contestants or

auditions that make you cringe?

Where someone performs one of the judges

songs to them. We’ve had lots of Spice Girls

and Cheryl numbers and you just think ‘no!’

Or judges’ houses, I remember one year a

contestant sang Ne-Yo to Ne-Yo, and I loved

the contestant but I did cringe.

What sort of acts would you like to see

more of on the show?

People that tick every box. So I don’t

necessarily want to see someone with an

amazing talent but they’re boring. A perfect

pop star, with the swag and the looks and the

vocals to match.

Which artist out there at the moment best

sums up what the X Factor is all about for

you?

Ella Eyre is one. She’s got a great voice and

she’s got a credible music background in

terms of the types of records she puts out

and she looks brilliant.

What are your strategies to get the most

gossip for the Xtra Factor?

It was going to be to take all the judges out

for drinks and get to know them better, but

actually they’re giving me quite a lot so I don’t

think I need a strategy.


Production Credits

The X Factor

Executive Producers for Thames

Richard Holloway

Mark Sidaway

Lee McNicholas

Executive Producer for Syco

Ben Winston

Series Editor

Claudia Cunnell

Head of Talent for Syco

Barney Addison

Senior Producers

Adam Chapman

Rosie Franks

Clara Elliot

Lily Wilson

Producers/Directors

Laura Bugden

Katie Hobbs

Leo Holden

Justin Saculles

Edit Producers

Lydia Akonis

Doran Azouelos

Leon Campbell

Paul Giddings

Claire Howell

Nick Jones

Phil McCullough

Chris Saville

Pete Tierney

Jared Wright

Producer

Emma Cassen

Associate Producers

Alanda Dunne

Nathan Palmer

Sarah Webber

Line Producer

Helen Moore

Production Manager

Julie Burfoot

The Xtra Factor

Executive Producers for Thames

Richard Holloway

Mark Sidaway

Lee McNicholas

Executive Producer for Syco

Ben Winston

Series Editor

Jayne Stanger

Senior Producers

Ollie Head

Iona Mackenzie

Edit Producer

Adam O’Neil

Assistant Producer

Joseph Purfield

Production Manager

Leah Capuozzo


TalkTalk TV gets fans in the mix with

new X Factor campaign

New 'Mix Off' app gives fans the

chance to create their own music

video that could appear on TV.

TalkTalk TV, proud sponsors of The X Factor,

has unveiled its new look sponsorship bumpers

and brand new app to get fans closer to the UK’s

favourite talent show. The TalkTalk Mix Off app

gives viewers of the show the chance to star in

their own unique music video taking inspiration

from some of the nation’s favourite pop stars.

How it works:

Step 1: Select your track, video style and

customise it

Step 2: Record your performance - sing along,

dance like crazy and have fun

Step 3: Mix it up by adding others to your video

The most popular Mix Off music videos will be

selected to appear in TalkTalk TV’s X

Factor sponsorship bumpers and also feature

on TalkTalk's brand new TV player, making it

available to all 1.1 million TalkTalk TV homes.

Whether it’s recreating your favourite boy band

dance routine or channelling your inner diva in

front of a wind machine, it's another great way for

TalkTalk homes and fans of The X Factor to get

even closer to the show.

The app will have a variety of filters and graphic

effects to give each Mix Off video a unique look

and feel. Music will include tracks covering a wide

range of genres from pop classics, to power

ballads, so there’s something for everyone.

Olivia Streatfeild, TalkTalk's Commercial Director

commented: “Our customers love the exclusive

access they get to The X Factor and the chance

of being on TV is hugely exciting for many. That's

why user generated videos are at the heart of

this year’s campaign. We want to get everyone

involved, even pets, we can't wait for TalkTalk

homes to come together and enjoy one of the

best shows on TV even more.”

2014 will mark the sixth consecutive year

TalkTalk, Britain’s fastest growing TV service,

has supported The X Factor. Over the last

year, the value provider has consistently

improved its TV service ensuring YouView

from TalkTalk gets better and better. In

addition to the revamped TalkTalk Player,

which brings even more blockbusters and hit

shows, TalkTalk has also bolstered its Plus TV

package by adding in seven Sky

entertainment channels including Sky 1 and

Sky Living.

TalkTalk’s sponsorship of The X Factor live

final gives its TV, broadband, mobile and home

phone customers the chance to win thousands

of money-can’t-buy tickets and exclusive

access to see their favourite contestants

perform at the show’s extravagant final

showdown. TalkTalk’s multiplatform campaign

will also bring fans and TalkTalk customers

closer to The X Factor via ticket competitions

to the live shows and sound checks.

The TalkTalk Mix Off app will be available to

download from 30th August via the Apple App

Store, or Google play.


About TalkTalk

TalkTalk is one of seven partners behind

YouView (www.youview.com), the internet-

connected TV service, along with the BBC,

ITV, BT, Channel 4, Arqiva and Five. YouView

launched to UK homes in 2012. Visit

www.talktalk.co.uk

TalkTalk is the UK’s leading value-for-money

provider of fixed line broadband, voice

telephony, TV and mobile services to

consumers and business users

Under the TalkTalk, AOL Broadband and

TalkTalk Business brands, TalkTalk serves 4

million customers across the UK

TalkTalk operates a fully unbundled network,

which extends to over 2,979 exchanges and

covers more than 96% of the UK population

TalkTalk is the first ISP to provide HomeSafe,

our unique and groundbreaking whole home

security and safety service, free of charge,

exclusively to our customers. HomeSafe•

protects every device in the home using a

TalkTalk broadband connection and since

launch has been activated by more than 1.2

million customers

HomeSafe was awarded Best Home TV

Provider 2013/2014 in the Personal Finance

Awards, the Best Value Home Broadband

Award in the uSwitch Broadband Awards

2013, the Broadband Innovation Award in the

uSwitch Broadband Awards 2012, and the

Internet Service Providers¹ Association 2012

Award for Internet Safety and Security

TalkTalk was voted as Britain¹s best value

provider for broadband, phone and TV

packages in Which? Satisfaction Survey 2013,

and TalkTalk Plus TV was named Best

Broadband & TV Package at the Recombu

Awards 2013

Customers can use TalkTalk¹s website,

www.talktalk.co.uk to manage their account,

use their webmail, resolve any problems and

access a range of information and

entertainment content

http://www.talktalk.co.uk


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ABOUT ITV PLC

ITV is the largest commercial television

network in the UK. It is the home of popular

television from the biggest entertainment

events, to original drama, major sport,

landmark factual series and independent

news. It operates a family of channels

including ITV, ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 and CITV

which are broadcast free-to-air. ITV is also

focused on delivering its programming

across multiple platforms including itv.com,

video on demand and other platforms,

mobile devices and games consoles. ITV

Studios produces and sells programmes and

formats in the UK and worldwide, and

comprises of ITV’s UK and international

production operations, international

distribution, home entertainment, publishing,

merchandising and licensing.

ABOUT THAMES

Thames is headed up by Richard Holloway -

one of the UK's most experienced

entertainment producers, and also Interim

CEO of FremantleMedia UK - as Managing

Director with Suzy Lamb as Head of

Entertainment. Broadcasting and producing

programmes in every conceivable genre

since 1968, the Thames label plays a

prominent role in the history of the British

television industry. As the entertainment

arm of FremantleMedia UK, Thames has

emerged as Britain's leading entertainment

label and continues to produce Britain's

biggest and best entertainment programmes.

With shows including The X Factor, Britain's

Got Talent, Take Me Out, National Lottery:

Break the Safe and All Star Family Fortunes,

Thames continues to set the standard for the

British entertainment genre.

ABOUT SYCO

Syco Entertainment is a joint venture between

Simon Cowell and Sony Music and is one of

the world’s leading global music, film and

television production companies responsible

for some of the world’s most successful global

TV and music franchises. Syco Entertainment

is also the world’s most successful producer of

international talent with Syco Music this year

being named the No.1 A & R label in the UK

for both singles and albums. The record label

is home to diverse international recording

artists including Labrinth, One Direction, Susan

Boyle, Little Mix, Ella Henderson, IL Divo, Fifth

Harmony, Alex & Sierra, Cher Lloyd and

Collabro. Syco’s television assets include the

global franchises The X Factor and Got Talent.

The X Factor was created by Syco Television

and is produced by Syco Television and

Fremantle Media. The X Factor is produced in

45 territories around the world and has

discovered more artists than any other

television singing competition format to date.

Artists discovered by the show have sold more

than 160 million records, including 170 No.1

hits, and 380 Top 10 records, including One

Direction who are currently the most popular

act in the world, having sold more than 43

million records to date.

In 2014 Got Talent was officially named the

‘World’s Most Successful Reality Television

Format’ by The Guinness Book of Records,

with original versions of the show now being

produced in 62 territories worldwide. Syco

have continued to capitalize on the ongoing

success of its established global hit TV formats

and developed a number of new projects

including; One Direction’s 3D movie ‘This Is

Us’ with Sony Pictures and ‘One Chance’, a

film based on the success story of Britain’s Got

Talent’s first winner, Paul Potts, in association

with the Weinstein Company.

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