List Of The X Factor Finalists (UK Series 5)
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'' The X Factor'' is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. The fifth series was broadcast on
ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of: ** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...
from 16 August 2008 until 13 December 2008. Dermot O'Leary returned to present the main show on
ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of: ** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...
, while
Fearne Cotton Fearne Wood ( Cotton; born 3 September 1981) is an English broadcaster and author''.'' She began her career in the late 1990s presenting various children's television shows for GMTV, CITV and CBBC. In 2007, she presented '' The Xtra Factor'', ...
was replaced by
Holly Willoughby Holly Marie Willoughby ( ; born 10 February 1981) is an English television presenter, author and model. She is currently the co-presenter of ITV's '' This Morning'' (2009–present) and '' Dancing on Ice'' (2006–2011, 2018–present) alongsid ...
as presenter of spin-off show '' The Xtra Factor'' on
ITV2 ITV2 is a British free-to-air television channel owned by ITV Digital Channels, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998. For a number of years, it had the largest audience share after the five analogue terrestrial stations, a ...
. Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, and
Dannii Minogue Danielle Jane Minogue () is an Australian singer, television personality, and actress. She initially gained recognition for her appearances on the television show ''Young Talent Time'' (1982–1988) and for her role as Emma Jackson on th ...
returned to the judging panel.
Sharon Osbourne Sharon Rachel Osbourne (née Levy, later Arden; born 9 October 1952) is a British-American television personality, music manager and author. She is married to heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne and came to prominence while appearing ...
left after four series and was replaced by Cheryl Cole. The series was won by
Alexandra Burke Alexandra Imelda Cecelia Ewen Burke (born 25 August 1988) is a British singer, songwriter and actress. She won the fifth series of the British television series ''The X Factor'' in 2008, and has been signed to Epic Records, RCA Records and Syc ...
, with Cole emerging as the winning mentor. Auditions in front of producers were held in April and May, with callbacks in front of the judges in June. The number of applicants for series 5 reached an all-time high with a reported 182,000 people auditioning. A number of well-established music acts from around the world, such as
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
,
Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the whi ...
,
Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage productio ...
, Girls Aloud, Take That,
Il Divo Il Divo (; ) are a multi-national classical crossover vocal group. The male quartet, which originated in the United Kingdom in December 2003, consists of tenors Urs Bühler, David Miller, and Sébastien Izambard. It also included baritone ...
, and
series 3 Series 3 may refer to: * 3 Skypephone Series, the mobile phone series * Apple Watch Series 3, smart watch * Aston Martin Lagonda Series 3, the automobile model * Aston Martin V8 Series 3, the automobile model * BMW 3 Series, the automobile model li ...
winner
Leona Lewis Leona Louise Lewis (born 3 April 1985) is a British singer, songwriter, actress and activist. Born and raised in the London Borough of Islington, she attended the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in Croydon. Lewis achieved nationa ...
, performed during the live stages of the show. Burke's prize, as winner, was a £1 million recording contract with Syco Music (a subsidiary of
Sony BMG Sony BMG Music Entertainment was an American record company owned as a 50–50 joint venture between Sony Corporation of America and Bertelsmann. The venture's successor, the revived Sony Music, is wholly owned by Sony, following their buyout o ...
). Her debut single, "
Hallelujah ''Hallelujah'' ( ; he, ''haləlū-Yāh'', meaning "praise Yah") is an interjection used as an expression of gratitude to God. The term is used 24 times in the Hebrew Bible (in the book of Psalms), twice in deuterocanonical books, and four tim ...
", written by Leonard Cohen, was released for digital download on 14 December 2008, with the physical format following on 17 December. It was later announced that her single had become the fastest-selling X Factor single at that time. It was during auditions for the fifth series of the show that viewers were introduced to two teenagers: 15-year-old
Jade Thirlwall Jade Amelia Thirlwall (born 26 December 1992) is an English singer-songwriter. She rose to prominence in the 2010s as a member of Little Mix, one of the world's best-selling girl groups. With Little Mix, she released six studio albums and ach ...
, who would form one quarter of the winning act of series eight,
Little Mix Little Mix are a British girl group, composed of group members Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall, and Perrie Edwards. Jesy Nelson was originally part of the group before she left in 2020. After becoming the first group to win the British ver ...
, and 14-year-old Liam Payne, who would become a member of boy band
One Direction One Direction, often shortened to 1D, are an English-Irish pop boy band formed in London in 2010. The group are composed of Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, and previously Zayn Malik until his departure from the gr ...
, formed in the seventh series.


Judges, presenters and other personnel

In February 2008, it was reported that
Sharon Osbourne Sharon Rachel Osbourne (née Levy, later Arden; born 9 October 1952) is a British-American television personality, music manager and author. She is married to heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne and came to prominence while appearing ...
would not return as a judge for the fifth series. On 6 June, six days before filming was due to begin at the London auditions,
ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of: ** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...
announced Osbourne's departure from the show. Media speculation over the reasons for Osbourne's departure alluded to rising tensions between her and fellow judge
Dannii Minogue Danielle Jane Minogue () is an Australian singer, television personality, and actress. She initially gained recognition for her appearances on the television show ''Young Talent Time'' (1982–1988) and for her role as Emma Jackson on th ...
, as well as disputes over pay. When interviewed by Chris Moyles on
BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...
, Osbourne said that it was "the best four years of erlife" but felt that it was "time to move on." On 10 June 2008, after Osbourne's departure, ITV confirmed that Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole was the new judge and Osbourne's replacement for series 5. Minogue praised the new judge, saying, "She's very knowledgeable about music and I think she's going to bring a new side to the show." Cowell is reported by Minogue to feel that Cole's voiced opinions are something "which he loves". Dermot O'Leary returned to present the main
ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of: ** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...
show, choosing to leave other projects, including his ongoing role as the host of '' Big Brother's Little Brother'', to concentrate on ''The X Factor''. ''The Xtra Factor'' presenter
Fearne Cotton Fearne Wood ( Cotton; born 3 September 1981) is an English broadcaster and author''.'' She began her career in the late 1990s presenting various children's television shows for GMTV, CITV and CBBC. In 2007, she presented '' The Xtra Factor'', ...
left after series 4, having presented for only one series, to be replaced by
Holly Willoughby Holly Marie Willoughby ( ; born 10 February 1981) is an English television presenter, author and model. She is currently the co-presenter of ITV's '' This Morning'' (2009–present) and '' Dancing on Ice'' (2006–2011, 2018–present) alongsid ...
.
Brian Friedman Brian L. Friedman (born May 28, 1977) is an American dancer and choreographer. Friedman has created the choreography for many popular music artists – such as Britney Spears, Cher, Beyoncé Knowles, and Mariah Carey – as well as for music ...
returned as choreographer and performance coach (billed as "Creative Director"), along with
Yvie Burnett Yvie Burnett (born 8 August 1963), is a Scottish mezzo-soprano and vocal coach, best known for her work with Simon Cowell on television shows ''The X Factor'' and ''Britain's Got Talent'', ''The Big Reunion'' ''The Voice UK'' and BBC's '' Let It ...
as vocal coach.


Selection process


Auditions

A reported "record-breaking" 182,000 applied for series 5, with filming for auditions in front of judges taking place in June/July 2008. Auditions were held in the cities of London,
Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...
, Manchester,
Cardiff Cardiff (; cy, Caerdydd ) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Cardiff ( cy, Dinas a Sir Caerdydd, links=no), and the city is the eleventh-largest in the United Kingd ...
, and
Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
. Due to her commitments with ''
Australia's Got Talent ''Australia's Got Talent'' is an Australian reality television talent show. The show is based on the ''Got Talent'' series format that originated in the United Kingdom with Simon Cowell. The first six seasons aired on the Seven Network, from 2 ...
'', Minogue was absent from some of the auditions in Birmingham and Cardiff but was not replaced.


Bootcamp

As in
series 4 Series 4 could refer to: * Aston Martin Lagonda Series 4, the automobile model * BMW 4 Series, the automobile model line * GeForce 4 series, line of nVidia video cards * Scania 4-series, the truck model line * South African Class 6E1, Series 4, el ...
, all four judges worked together at the bootcamp stage of the competition. This took place at indigO2 at The O2 in Greenwich, London on 4 August 2008, and was televised in two episodes on 27 and 28 September 2008. Contestants are said to have stayed in a nearby hotel in
Blackheath Blackheath may refer to: Places England *Blackheath, London, England ** Blackheath railway station **Hundred of Blackheath, Kent, an ancient hundred in the north west of the county of Kent, England *Blackheath, Surrey, England ** Hundred of Blackh ...
. During bootcamp, around 150 acts were whittled down to 24 who advanced to the next round, six in each category. After completion of bootcamp, the judges were told the category that they were to mentor. Cowell was given the Boys, Walsh the Groups, Minogue the Over 25s, and Cole the Girls.


Judges' houses

This round was filmed in late August and early September and was broadcast over two shows on 4 and 5 October. As in previous years, the judges welcomed the six acts from their selected category to their "homes". Each act had one chance to impress their mentor who, along with a guest judge, had the task of selecting which three acts were to go through to the live shows and which three would be eliminated. For her guest judge, Minogue chose former
Spice Girls The Spice Girls are a British girl group formed in 1994, consisting of Melanie Brown, also known as Mel B ("Scary Spice"); Melanie Chisholm, or Melanie C ("Sporty Spice"); Emma Bunton ("Baby Spice"); Geri Halliwell ("Ginger Spice"); and Vict ...
member and
Emma Bunton Emma Lee Bunton (born 21 January 1976) is an English singer, songwriter, actress, and media personality. She rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of the girl group Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Baby Spice. With over 100 million recor ...
, Cole chose her fellow Girls Aloud member
Kimberly Walsh Kimberley Jane Scott (née Walsh; born 20 November 1981) is an English singer, fashion designer, model, variety performer, television presenter, actress and dancer. She rose to fame in late 2002 when she auditioned for the reality series '' Po ...
, Cowell chose singer Sinitta, and Walsh chose Shane Filan from
Westlife Westlife is an Irish pop vocal group formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1998. The group currently consists of members Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne. Brian McFadden was a member, until he left in 2004. The group temporarily di ...
. ;Judges Houses Performances: * Act in bold advanced Boys: * Eoghan: " Father and Son" * Liam: "
A Million Love Songs "A Million Love Songs" is a song by English boy band Take That that featured in their debut studio album, '' Take That & Party'' (1992). It was written by lead vocalist Gary Barlow. It was released in the United Kingdom on 28 September 1992 a ...
" * Mali: "
All in Love Is Fair "All in Love Is Fair" is a song by American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder recorded for his sixteenth studio album, ''Innervisions'' (1973). Written and produced by Wonder, it was released as a 7" single in Brazil in 1974. The song is a pop bal ...
" * Austin: " She's Out of My Life" * Scott: "
I Can't Make You Love Me "I Can't Make You Love Me" is a song written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin and recorded by American singer Bonnie Raitt for her eleventh studio album, '' Luck of the Draw'' (1991). Released as the album's second single in 1991, "I Can't Make ...
" * Alan: "
All or Nothing All or Nothing may refer to: Film and television * ''All or Nothing'' (film), a 2002 film by Mike Leigh * ''All or Nothing'' (game show), a 2004–2005 Russian game show based on ''Deal or No Deal'' * ''All or Nothing'' (sports docuseries), ...
" Over 25s: * Daniel: " Against All Odds" * Ruth: " True Colors" * Louise: " I Say a Little Prayer" * James: " Mr. Bojangles" * Suzie: " One Day I'll Fly Away" * Rachel: " Beautiful" Groups: * 4Instinct: " Rockin' Robin" * Girlband: "
Valerie Valerie may refer to: People *Saint Valerie (disambiguation), a number of saints went by the name Valerie *Valerie (given name), a feminine given name Songs *"Valerie", a 1981 song by Quarterflash, from ''Quarterflash'' *"Valerie", a 1982 son ...
" * JLS: " No Air" * Priority: " Umbrella" * Bad Lashes: " Wonderwall" * Desire: "
Shine Shine may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Shine'' (film), a 1996 Australian film based on the life of David Helfgott, a pianist * Shine, a fictional character in the American animated TV series ''Shimmer and Shine'' Lite ...
" Girls: * Diana: " Nothing Compares 2 U" * Amy: "
Sweet About Me "Sweet About Me" is the second single by Australian singer-songwriter Gabriella Cilmi from her debut album, ''Lessons to Be Learned'' (2008). The song was used in commercials for Sure and Dove Bodywash in Europe, as well as a commercial for Rexo ...
" * Hannah: " Piece of My Heart" * Laura: " Cry Me a River" * Annastasia: " Oh Baby I..." * Alexandra: " Listen"


Acts

Key: : – Winner : – Runner-Up


Live shows

The live shows began on 11 October 2008 and continued through to the finale on 13 December 2008. An added twist for this series, confirmed on the first live show, was that acts in the bottom-two showdown sang a new song of their own choosing, rather than repeating the song they performed in the first part of the show.


Musical guests

Leon Jackson performed on the first live show, promoting his second single "
Don't Call This Love "Don't Call This Love" is a song by the Scottish singer Leon Jackson, released on 12 October 2008 on CD and as a digital download. The song is taken from his first album, '' Right Now'', and is his second single release after his Christmas numbe ...
". Girls Aloud performed their new single " The Promise" on the second show on 18 October.
Will Young William Robert Young (born 20 January 1979) is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominence after winning the 2002 Pop Idol (series 1), inaugural series of the ITV (TV network), ITV talent contest ''Pop Idol'', making him the f ...
performed his new song "
Grace Grace may refer to: Places United States * Grace, Idaho, a city * Grace (CTA station), Chicago Transit Authority's Howard Line, Illinois * Little Goose Creek (Kentucky), location of Grace post office * Grace, Carroll County, Missouri, an uninco ...
" on 1 November.
Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the whi ...
appeared on 8 November and performed her new single " I Stay in Love", plus a special version of "
Hero A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or Physical strength, strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ...
" with 11 of the finalists (Diana Vickers was ill with
laryngitis Laryngitis is inflammation of the larynx (voice box). Symptoms often include a hoarse voice and may include fever, cough, pain in the front of the neck, and trouble swallowing. Typically, these last under two weeks. Laryngitis is categorised ...
so could not perform).
Leona Lewis Leona Louise Lewis (born 3 April 1985) is a British singer, songwriter, actress and activist. Born and raised in the London Borough of Islington, she attended the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in Croydon. Lewis achieved nationa ...
appeared the week after and performed her new single "
Run Run(s) or RUN may refer to: Places * Run (island), one of the Banda Islands in Indonesia * Run (stream), a stream in the Dutch province of North Brabant People * Run (rapper), Joseph Simmons, now known as "Reverend Run", from the hip-hop group ...
". Take That performed on 22 November show, as did series 4 third-place act Same Difference, who performed their debut single, and series 4 runner-up
Rhydian Roberts Rhydian James Roberts (born 14 February 1983), also known mononymously as Rhydian, is a Welsh baritone singer, television presenter and musical theatre actor. He made his name by finishing second in series 4 of ''The X Factor'', and has since ...
, who sang a track from his debut album. On 29 November show, in the main programme
Miley Cyrus Miley Ray Cyrus ( ; born Destiny Hope Cyrus on November 23, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known for her distinctive raspy voice, her music spans across varied styles and genres, including pop, country, rock, hip hop ...
performed her single " 7 Things", whereas
Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage productio ...
performed her new single "
Womanizer Womanizer may refer to: * "Womanizer" (term), a promiscuous heterosexual man * "Womanizer" (song), a 2008 song by Britney Spears * "Womanizer", a 1977 song by Blood, Sweat & Tears from '' Brand New Day'' * ''Womanizer'', a 2004 album by Absolute ...
" during the result show. On 6 December show,
Il Divo Il Divo (; ) are a multi-national classical crossover vocal group. The male quartet, which originated in the United Kingdom in December 2003, consists of tenors Urs Bühler, David Miller, and Sébastien Izambard. It also included baritone ...
sung their latest single " Amazing Grace" from their new album. Boyzone,
Westlife Westlife is an Irish pop vocal group formed in Dublin, Ireland in 1998. The group currently consists of members Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne. Brian McFadden was a member, until he left in 2004. The group temporarily di ...
, and
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
were guests on the final show where they duetted with the finalists, with Knowles performing " Listen" with Alexandra Burke. Beyoncé also performed " If I Were a Boy" in the final result show.


Results summary

;Colour key Act in team Dannii Act in team Simon Act in team Cheryl Act in team Louis The total number of votes cast for the entire series was 16,469,064. Due to illness, Diana Vickers did not perform during week 5 and automatically advanced to week 6.
Minogue was not required to vote as there was already a majority.


Live show details


Week 1 (11 October)

*Theme: UK or USA number-one singles *Musical guest: Leon Jackson ("
Don't Call This Love "Don't Call This Love" is a song by the Scottish singer Leon Jackson, released on 12 October 2008 on CD and as a digital download. The song is taken from his first album, '' Right Now'', and is his second single release after his Christmas numbe ...
") * Best bits song: " Never Had a Dream Come True" ;Judges' votes to eliminate: *Cowell: Bad Lashes – gave no reason but described both acts as "shocking"; he later stated on ''The Xtra Factor'' that he felt Girlband had shown more emotion in their final showdown performance due to being shown in a earlier slot to be overlooked by the public. *Cole: Girlband – gave no reason. *Minogue: Girlband – gave no reason. *Walsh: Bad Lashes – could not decide between two of his own acts so chose to take the vote to deadlock. With the acts in the bottom two receiving two votes each, the result went to deadlock and reverted to the earlier public vote. Bad Lashes were eliminated as the act with the fewest public votes.


Week 2 (18 October)

*Theme:
Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...
*Musical guest: Girls Aloud (" The Promise") * Best bits song: " I’ll Stand by You" ;Judges' votes to eliminate: *Walsh: Ruth Lorenzo – backed his own act, Girlband. *Minogue: Girlband – backed her own act, Ruth Lorenzo. *Cole: Girlband – based on the final showdown performances. *Cowell: Ruth Lorenzo – chose to take the vote to deadlock as he wanted to give Girlband a second chance whereas he felt Lorenzo did not "play to her strengths". With the acts in the bottom two receiving two votes each, the result went to deadlock and reverted to the earlier public vote. Girlband were eliminated as the act with the fewest public votes. During the show, a mistake was made in one of the overlays and Lorenzo's number was briefly displayed incorrectly, meaning any calls to that number would not have registered a vote. After the show, viewers complained that they had dialled this incorrect number and could not get through to vote for Lorenzo, but ITV insisted the issue should not have made any difference to the overall result as Lorenzo received more votes than Girlband and advanced to the third week after the result went to deadlock.


Week 3 (25 October)

*Theme:
Big band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s an ...
*Group performance: "
Hero A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or Physical strength, strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ...
" *Best Bits song: "
Shine Shine may refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Shine'' (film), a 1996 Australian film based on the life of David Helfgott, a pianist * Shine, a fictional character in the American animated TV series ''Shimmer and Shine'' Lite ...
" ;Judges' votes to eliminate: *Cowell: Daniel Evans – backed his own act, Scott Bruton. *Cole: Scott Bruton – said that she felt the "belief and passion" in Evans' performance. *Minogue: Scott Bruton – backed her own act, Daniel Evans, whom she stated sang the best in the sing off. *Walsh: Scott Bruton – commented that Evans "sang every word like he meant it".


Week 4 (1 November)

*Theme:
Disco Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric pia ...
*Musical guest:
Will Young William Robert Young (born 20 January 1979) is a British singer-songwriter and actor who came to prominence after winning the 2002 Pop Idol (series 1), inaugural series of the ITV (TV network), ITV talent contest ''Pop Idol'', making him the f ...
("
Grace Grace may refer to: Places United States * Grace, Idaho, a city * Grace (CTA station), Chicago Transit Authority's Howard Line, Illinois * Little Goose Creek (Kentucky), location of Grace post office * Grace, Carroll County, Missouri, an uninco ...
") *Best Bits song: " Rule the World" ;Judges' votes to eliminate: *Cowell: Rachel Hylton – backed his own act, Austin Drage. *Cole: Austin Drage – stated she was prepared to give Hylton a "moment to shine". *Minogue: Austin Drage – backed her own act, Rachel Hylton. *Walsh: Austin Drage – said Hylton had more to give to the competition and was more of a "raw talent". However, voting statistics revealed that Drage received more votes than Hylton which meant that if Walsh sent the result to deadlock, Drage would have been saved.


Week 5 (8 November)

*Theme:
Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the whi ...
*Guest Mentor: Mariah Carey *Musical guest: Mariah Carey (" I Stay in Love" / "
Hero A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or Physical strength, strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ...
") *Best Bits song: "
A Moment Like This "A Moment Like This" is the debut single by American singer Kelly Clarkson. The song was written by Jörgen Elofsson and John Reid from British house music project Nightcrawlers) and produced by Stephen Ferrera and Steve Mac. It was released ...
" Due to illness, Diana Vickers did not perform and automatically advanced to the following week. She was due to perform fifth and would have performed " Always Be My Baby". ;Judges' votes to eliminate: *Cowell: Laura White – gave no reason but commented that both acts "were not the worst singers of the night". *Cole: Ruth Lorenzo – backed her own act, Laura White. *Minogue: Laura White – backed her own act, Ruth Lorenzo. *Walsh: Laura White – commented that Lorenzo was "more of a fighter". However, voting statistics revealed that White received more votes than Lorenzo which meant that if Walsh sent the result to deadlock, White would have been saved.


Week 6 (15 November)

*Theme: British classics *Musical guest:
Leona Lewis Leona Louise Lewis (born 3 April 1985) is a British singer, songwriter, actress and activist. Born and raised in the London Borough of Islington, she attended the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in Croydon. Lewis achieved nationa ...
("
Run Run(s) or RUN may refer to: Places * Run (island), one of the Banda Islands in Indonesia * Run (stream), a stream in the Dutch province of North Brabant People * Run (rapper), Joseph Simmons, now known as "Reverend Run", from the hip-hop group ...
") *Best Bits song: " Footprints in the Sand" ;Judges' votes to eliminate: *Walsh: Daniel Evans – gave no reason but had constantly criticised Evans throughout the competition. *Cole: Daniel Evans – stated that she had seen a spark back from Hylton this week. *Cowell: Daniel Evans – gave no reason though commented that Hylton "threw it away" with her last performance and that he would have liked to see her perform with more passion; he later stated on ''The Xtra Factor'' that he wanted to save Hylton as she was one of his favorite acts in the competition. *Minogue was not required to vote as there was already a majority; she stated she would have sent the result to deadlock as both acts were in her category. However, voting statistics revealed than Evans received more votes than Hylton which meant that if the result went to deadlock, Evans would have been saved.


Week 7 (22 November)

*Theme: Take That *Guest Mentors: Gary Barlow & Mark Owen *Musical guests: Take That (" Greatest Day"), Same Difference ("
We R One "We R One" was the first single from British brother and sister duo Same Difference' debut studio album, ''Pop''. The song was also the duo's debut single. The duo rose to fame when they came third place in the fourth series of ITV1 talent compe ...
") and Rhydian (" The Impossible Dream") *Best Bits song: "
When You Believe "When You Believe" is a song from the 1998 DreamWorks musical animated feature ''The Prince of Egypt''. It was written and composed by Stephen Schwartz. A pop single version of "When You Believe", with additional music and lyrics by writer-prod ...
" ;Judges' votes to eliminate *Walsh: Rachel Hylton – backed his own act, JLS. *Minogue: JLS – gave no reason but effectively backed her own act, Rachel Hylton. *Cole: Rachel Hylton – said JLS would go further in the competition though stated that it had been the best Hylton had sung since the auditions. *Cowell: Rachel Hylton – stated that this was Hylton's third time in the bottom two and that JLS should not have been in the final showdown. JLS had previously been rehearsing to sing "Rule the World", with the approval of their mentor, Walsh. Contrary to this, Minogue, who had higher priority in the judges' song-selection rota, selected the song for her artist Hylton to sing. This led to an on-screen argument between Minogue and Walsh.


Week 8: Quarter-Final (29 November)

*Themes:
Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage productio ...
; American classics *Musical guests:
Miley Cyrus Miley Ray Cyrus ( ; born Destiny Hope Cyrus on November 23, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Known for her distinctive raspy voice, her music spans across varied styles and genres, including pop, country, rock, hip hop ...
(" 7 Things") and
Britney Spears Britney Jean Spears (born December 2, 1981) is an American singer. Often referred to as the " Princess of Pop", she is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. After appearing in stage productio ...
("
Womanizer Womanizer may refer to: * "Womanizer" (term), a promiscuous heterosexual man * "Womanizer" (song), a 2008 song by Britney Spears * "Womanizer", a 1977 song by Blood, Sweat & Tears from '' Brand New Day'' * ''Womanizer'', a 2004 album by Absolute ...
") *Best Bits song: "
Don't Wanna Lose You "Don't Wanna Lose You" is a song by Cuban-American singer and songwriter Gloria Estefan. It was released on June 21, 1989 as the first single by Epic Records from her debut solo album, '' Cuts Both Ways'' (1989). The song is written by Estefa ...
" The quarter-final did not feature a final showdown and instead the act with the fewest public votes, Ruth Lorenzo, was automatically eliminated.


Week 9: Semi-Final (6 December)

*Themes: Mentor's choice; contestant's choice *Musical guest:
Il Divo Il Divo (; ) are a multi-national classical crossover vocal group. The male quartet, which originated in the United Kingdom in December 2003, consists of tenors Urs Bühler, David Miller, and Sébastien Izambard. It also included baritone ...
(" Amazing Grace") * Best bits song: " Breakaway" The semi-final did not feature a final showdown and instead the act with the fewest public votes, Diana Vickers, was automatically eliminated.


Week 10: Final (13 December)

*Themes: Christmas songs; celebrity duets; song of the series; winner's single *Group performances: "
I Have a Dream "I Have a Dream" is a public speech that was delivered by American civil rights activist and Baptist minister, Martin Luther King Jr., during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. In the speech, King called ...
" (auditionees) and " Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (all contestants) *Musical guest:
Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Beyoncé's boundary-pushing artistry and vocals have made her the most influential female musician of the 21st century, according to ...
(" If I Were a Boy") * Best bits songs: "
All or Nothing All or Nothing may refer to: Film and television * ''All or Nothing'' (film), a 2002 film by Mike Leigh * ''All or Nothing'' (game show), a 2004–2005 Russian game show based on ''Deal or No Deal'' * ''All or Nothing'' (sports docuseries), ...
" (Eoghan Quigg), " End of the Road" (JLS) & " The Voice Within" (Alexandra Burke)


Charity single

The twelve contestants together recorded a cover version of
Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the whi ...
's 1993 hit "
Hero A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or Physical strength, strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ...
" in support of the
Help for Heroes Help for Heroes (H4H) is a British charity which provides lifelong recovery support to British Armed Forces service personnel who have been wounded or injured in the line of duty, and to their families, originally only since 11 September 2001, th ...
charity. The single was available for download from 25 October 2008, after the finalists performed the song live on that night's show. It was released in stores on 27 October, and Simon Cowell predicted it "will go straight to the top of the charts". In the first week of its release it went straight to number 1 and sold 313,244 copies, more than the rest of the top ten combined.


Reception


Ratings

Viewing figures for series 5 were, at the time of airing, the highest ever for any ''X Factor'' series, about 20% up on the previous series. This, however, was beaten by the sixth series the following year. The first show of the series had the highest launch audience for any series, peaking at over 12 million viewers. The entire ''Auditions'' phase officially averaged 9.9m, a rise of 1.2m over the previous series. The ''Bootcamp'' episodes performed well in the ratings; although the Saturday episode was beaten for the first time by ''
Strictly Come Dancing ''Strictly Come Dancing'' (informally known as ''Strictly'') is a British dance contest show in which celebrities partner with professional dancers to compete in mainly ballroom and Latin dance. Each couple is scored by a panel of usually 4 ...
'', the Sunday episode restored the balance. The Saturday ''Judges' houses'' episode had the highest audience since the opening show, and the Sunday episode had a lower rating but still exceeded that of ''
Strictly Come Dancing ''Strictly Come Dancing'' (informally known as ''Strictly'') is a British dance contest show in which celebrities partner with professional dancers to compete in mainly ballroom and Latin dance. Each couple is scored by a panel of usually 4 ...
''. The entire ''bootcamp'' and ''judges' houses'' phase officially averaged 9.8m, a rise of 2.5m over the previous series. The live shows pulled in very strong audiences, often rating as the most watched programme of the week. The final was the second most watched television programme of 2008 with 14.06m viewers. Series 5 of ''The X Factor'' officially averaged 10.5m, at the time becoming the most watched British talent series of the 21st century.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:X Factor British series 5 05 2008 in British television 2008 in British music 2008 British television seasons United Kingdom 05