Can you believe that The X Factor is already in its 12th year on our screens? It seems only yesterday (in fact it was 2004) that Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne first took to the judging panel to preside over the best raw talent that Britain had to offer. Well, now they’re back, joined by ex-Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger for what could be the last ever series on ITV.
Of course, despite what many hardened Strictly Come Dancing fans might say, the X Factor really is the pinnacle of the UK’s autumn/winter Saturday Night TV viewing schedule – a time when we all hunker down, close the blinds, and enjoy nothing more than a nice cosy night in. And there’s certainly been some decent talent over the years.
The contestants
Here’s a good pub quiz question to start off with: Who was the first ever X Factor winner? You’ll find the answer below*.
Despite current Corrie actor Shayne Ward winning in 2005, it took until series 3 for the winner to make it big, when smooth-voiced Leona Lewis pipped Eddie Munster lookalike Ray Quinn to the title. Leona went on to have some big hits and even appeared on the American version of the show.
Series 4 was again a lean time for enduring talent (I mean, who remembers Rhydian Roberts?), but from series 5 onwards we witnessed an explosion of big names, including Alexandra Burke, JLS, Diana Vickers and Olly Murs.
Talking of explosions, Series 7 was perhaps the most explosive series of them all, which saw arguably the biggest ever act emerge in the form of One Direction. There were also pantomime villains of course, with Cher Lloyd, Katie Waissel and Wagner all attracting criticism, but the eventual winner was Matt Cardle, with his version of “When we collide”. Series 8 was no less explosive, with bad boy Frankie Cocozza being axed after making comments about drug-taking. It was eventually won by the hastily-renamed Little Mix.
Series 10 saw a bit of a departure from the norm, when 36 year old prison guard and mother Sam Bailey stole the nation’s hearts. The most recent series was won by Louisa Johnson, with Ghanaian act Reggie & Bollie finishing runners up.
But of course, it’s not all about the contestants…
The judges
Whilst contestants come and go, it is the judges that have remained pretty constant over the years. By series 4, the number of judges was expanded from 3 to 4 with the addition of Aussie popstrel Danni Minogue, and by series 5, younger blood was brought in, in the form of Cheryl Cole (as she was then known). Some may have questioned her authority as a judge, but, as Ant & Dec have proved, every successful programme needs a Geordie or two!
Series 8 saw a total refresh of the judging line up. Out went Cowell, Minogue and Cole. In came Gary Barlow, Tulisa (yes, her) and Kelly Rowland, to be closely followed by appearances from Nicole Scherzinger and Mel B.
In Series 11, Simon made his triumphant return from the States, whilst Louis Walsh was controversially removed in Series 12, along with Mel B, to bring in 2 younger judges in the form of singer-turned-model Rita Ora and Radio 1 breakfast DJ Nick Grimshaw. Olly Murs and Caroline Flack came in as presenters, taking over from long time host Dermot O’Leary to give the show even more of a fresh feel.
And so, with the original line up (+ 1) back for 2016, we look ahead to perhaps one of the most exciting parts of the show: the judges’ houses. I mean who doesn’t like to have a nosey inside the homes of the rich and famous? And when Sinitta isn’t trying to blend seamlessly into the foliage, we can sit back and admire their choice of decor.
As our made-to-measure blinds are fit for any home, including those owned by Music Moguls, we thought we’d pick out the perfect blind for each of the X Factor judges:
Simon Cowell
The grandaddy of them and the REAL winner of the X Factor, after making millions from the show and the acts he has brought through.
Well, for the King of the Cruel Comments, it has to be black doesn’t it? A black venetian blind would be perfect for the man who likes to think of himself as cool personified. Plus, with a handy cord, you can suspend the blind as high as you like, which is very reminiscent of a certain someone’s trouser waistband!
Sharon Osbourne
If the hit reality TV show “The Osbournes” taught us anything, it’s that Mrs Ozzy Osbourne likes a bit of bling in her life. So we’ve chosen a metallic gold venetian blind for Shazza. Perfect for keeping her and her army of pooches nice and cool.
Louis Walsh
What else would a man from the Emerald Isle choose than a nice shade of green? Well, we’ve got up to 10 shades of green to choose from, so we’ve picked out a nice lime green roller blind for Louis. Perfect for opening up fully on those very rare sunny days in Ireland.
Nicole Scherzinger
The former pussycat doll must be sick of seeing former beau Lewis Hamilton draped with women in TV ads, but, when she’s not starring in TV ads of her own, Ms Scherzinger, we feel, is a very neat and proper lady, so we have chosen a blind with a similarly neat appearance. Our radiant orchid perfect fit venetian blinds are made to exact specifications and look simply stunning.
*And the answer to the question: The first ever X Factor winner was the unforgettable Steve Brookstein (seriously – I can’t remember him at all).