Brian Burke returned as creative director, but Elizabeth Honan did not. In Murs' absence, Flack was joined by guest presenters such as Jedward, JLS and Westlife. ĭermot O'Leary returned to present the main show on ITV for his sixth series, while Caroline Flack and Olly Murs returned to co-present companion show The Xtra Factor on ITV2, but Murs was absent for the auditions, bootcamp and judges' houses as he was on tour with One Direction in America. Scherzinger was announced as the fourth permanent judge on 15 June 2012, filling the fourth chair from the Newcastle auditions onwards.
They were filled by Halliwell, series 3 winner Leona Lewis, Rita Ora, former judge and Over 30s runner-up mentor of The X Factor USA, Nicole Scherzinger, judge of The X Factor Australia, Mel B and Anastacia. As a fourth permanent judge was not confirmed in time for the start of the auditions, guest judging roles were brought in. Former judges Sharon Osbourne, Dannii Minogue, and Cheryl Cole, as well as Katy Perry and Rihanna, were said to have declined the role. Individuals rumoured to be permanently replacing Rowland included Alesha Dixon, and Rochelle Wiseman and Frankie Sandford. However, Rowland was relocated to the American show where she would become a judge to replace L.A. Tulisa was also confirmed to be returning, but Kelly Rowland did not return due to other commitments.
On 17 April 2012, Gary Barlow was confirmed to be returning to the judging panel, and on 3 May it was announced that Louis Walsh would also return for his ninth year as a judge. Within four-and-a-half months of the final, six of the series' finalists-Arthur, Douglas, Henderson, Christopher Maloney, Union J and Lucy Spraggan -had been signed to record labels. The final received the lowest ratings of an X Factor final since 2005, until the following year's series final attracted worse ratings. This series' launch was the lowest rated since 2006, and the show was often beaten in the ratings by other programmes such as Strictly Come Dancing, Downton Abbey and I'm a Celebrity.Get Me Out of Here!. The live shows were controversial for the eliminations of Carolynne Poole (after which Gary Barlow walked off the stage ) and Ella Henderson, the fact that the voting lines opened before the contestants had performed, and also comments made by the judges-Tulisa using the term " MILF", Barlow insulting Tulisa's breath, and Scherzinger saying "effing". In the auditions, these included Zoe Alexander, who swore at judges Alison Brunton, whose audition was believed to have "caused unnecessary distress or anxiety" to her children and Lorna Bliss, who gave Walsh a lap dance. The series was beset by several controversial issues throughout its run. It was criticised by former winner Shayne Ward because he was not included. The trailer for the series, entitled "Whose Time Is Now?", premiered on 30 July, featuring former contestants Lewis, Alexandra Burke, JLS, Murs, One Direction and Little Mix talking about their time on The X Factor and how it had changed their lives. The final was held at Manchester Central. The 12 finalists were joined by a 13th wildcard, voted for by the public after each judge picked one of their rejected to return.
They selected their final three acts during judges' houses, which took place in Boughton House in Northamptonshire, Dubai, Saint Lucia and Las Vegas. Barlow mentored the over 28s, Scherzinger had the boys, Tulisa mentored the girls and Walsh had the groups. Bootcamp took place in Liverpool for three days, between 19 and 22 July.
Īuditions for the series took place between 23 May and 25 June 2012, in Liverpool, London, Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle and Cardiff. As of 2016, it is the most successful winner's single in the show's history.
Arthur was announced as the winner on 9 December, and released a cover of Shontelle's " Impossible" as his winner's song. After the show of 8 December, two of Scherzinger's acts, James Arthur and Jahméne Douglas, became the top two, meaning that Scherzinger was guaranteed to win. Nicole Scherzinger was confirmed as the fourth permanent judge after Geri Halliwell, Leona Lewis, Rita Ora, Mel B, Anastacia and Scherzinger herself stood in as guest judges for the vacant position left by Kelly Rowland. Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow and Tulisa returned as judges. Dermot O'Leary returned as presenter of the main show on ITV, whilst Caroline Flack and Olly Murs returned to co-present The Xtra Factor on ITV2. The ninth series began airing on ITV on 18 August 2012 and ended on 9 December 2012. The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent.