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The X Factor UK (Series 5)
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Series 5
Broadcast from 16 August 2008 – 13 December 2008
Judges Louis Walsh
Dannii Minogue
Cheryl Cole
Simon Cowell
Presenters Dermot O'Leary
Holly Willoughby
Network ITV
ITV2
Number of finalists 12
Winner Alexandra Burke
Runner-up JLS
Notable returnees Rikki Loney (1)
Alexandra Burke (2)
Marlon McKenzie (2)
Austin Drage (4)
Ratings 10.51 millions
Chronology
Previous Series 4
Next Series 6

Series 5 of The X Factor premiered on August 16, 2008 and ended on December 13, 2008 on ITV.

It was during auditions that viewers were introduced to 15-year-old Jade Thirlwall, who in Series 8 would form one quarter of the winning act that year, Little Mix. The fifth series also introduced 14-year-old Liam Payne who became a member of successful boy band One Direction, formed in Series 7.

It was won by 20-year old R&B singer Alexandra Burke who was part of the Girls category mentored by Cheryl Cole. She had previously made it to Judges' Houses in Series 2 but was sent home by Louis Walsh.

Runners-up JLS and semi finalist Diana Vickers also secured record deals after the show and both went on to have chart success.

This series was watched by 10.51 million viewers - almost 2 million more than the previous series.

Production[]

Dermot O'Leary returned to present the main show on ITV, while Fearne Cotton was replaced by Holly Willoughby as presenter of spin-off show The Xtra Factor on ITV2. Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue and Simon Cowell returned to the judging panel. Sharon Osbourne left after four series and was replaced by Cheryl Cole.

Judges[]

Louiswalsh2008 Cheryl Cole 01 Danniiminoguepic1 Simoncowell2008
Louis Walsh Cheryl Cole Dannii Minogue Simon Cowell

Twists/Changes[]

Permanent Replacement Judge: This is the first series to feature the show's first ever permanent replacement judge.

Final Showdown Song Choice: Unlike the previous four series, this series is the first where the acts in the final showdown would select a song they wished to perform in the final showdown, rather than repeat the song they performed of the same night in that respective week.

Charity Single: In a change to previous series, the twelve finalists released a cover of Mariah Carey's 1993 single "Hero" with all proceeds going to the Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion charities. This format would continue up to and including 2011.

Post-Series Voting Statistics Revelation: This is the first series to feature the voting statistics for the live shows after the conclusion of the final.

Finalists[]

Act Category Finish Elimination
Badlashesmini Bad Lashes
19-24, various places
Groups 12th
week one
Deadlock
Girlbandmini Girlband
18-22, South-West England
Groups 11th
week two
Deadlock
Scottbrutonmini Scott Bruton
20, Manchester
Boys 10th
week three
Majority vote
Austindragemini Austin Drage
22, Grays, Thurrock
Boys 9th
week four
Majority vote
X Factor 2009 Live Tour
Laurawhitemini Laura White
21, Atherton, Wigan
Girls 8th
week five
Majority vote
Danielevansmini Daniel Evans
39, Leyton, London
Over 25s 7th
week six
Majority vote
Rachelhyltonmini Rachel Hylton
27, London
Over 25s 6th
week seven
Majority vote
Ruthlorenzomini Ruth Lorenzo
26, Murcia, Spain
Over 25s 5th
quarter-final
Fewest public votes
Dianavickersmini Diana Vickers
17, Accrington, Lancashire
Girls 4th
semi-final
Fewest public votes
Eoghanquiggmini Eoghan Quigg
16, County Londonderry
Boys 3rd
final
Fewest public votes
Jlsmini JLS
20-23, various places
Groups Runner-up
final
Fewest public votes
Alexburkemini Alexandra Burke
20, London
Girls Winner
final
Most public votes

Selection process[]

Auditions[]

See: List of The X Factor UK auditionees (series 5)

Notable returnees included eventual winner Alexandra Burke who first auditioned for the show in Series 2, making as far as Judges Houses' before being sent home. Other notable auditionees included Nikk Mager who first came to public attention as a participant on Popstars: The Rivals alongside Cheryl Cole, who went on to be part of the winning girlband Girls Aloud.

Bootcamp[]

See: Bootcamp (UK series 5)

Judges' Houses[]

See: Judges' Houses (UK series 5)

Summary of judges' houses
Judge Category Location Guest mentor(s) Contestants eliminated
Cole Girls Cannes Kimberley Walsh Annastasia Baker, Hannah Bradbeer, Amy Connelly
Cowell Boys Barbados Sinitta Mali-Michael McCalla, Liam Payne, Alan Turner
Minogue Over 25s Saint Tropez Emma Bunton Suzie Furlonger, Louise Heatley, James Williams
Walsh Groups Glaslough, Co. Monaghan Shane Filan 4Instinct, Desire, Priority

Live Shows[]

Results Summary[]

Weekly results per act
Week 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Quarter-Final Semi-Final Final
Eliminated Badlashesmini Girlbandmini Scottbrutonmini Austindragemini Laurawhitemini Danielevansmini Rachelhyltonmini Ruthlorenzomini Dianavickersmini Eoghanquiggmini Jlsmini Alexburkemini
Alexandra Burke 6th
7.20%
7th
7.15%
6th
8.83%
6th
8.82%
2nd
18.35%
4th
13.31%
4th
14.97%
1st
24.53%
2nd
31.04%
1st
44.02%
Winner
58.34%
JLS 7th
5.03%
3rd
9.21%
4th
10.81%
2nd
17.00%
4th
13.26%
5th
9.91%
5th
11.75%
2nd
24.34%
1st
35.03%
2nd
30.65%
Runner-Up
41.66%
Eoghan Quigg 1st
21.19%
1st
26.77%
1st
20.73%
1st
19.81%
1st
27.39%
2nd
19.56%
1st
31.79%
3rd
19.58%
3rd
21.14%
3rd
25.33%
Eliminated
(final)
Diana Vickers 4th
7.35%
2nd
16.24%
2nd
15.13%
3rd
15.24%
Bye Week 1st
31.30%
2nd
18.94%
4th
16.32%
4th
12.79%
Eliminated
(semi-final)
Ruth Lorenzo 10th
3.47%
10th
2.95%
5th
8.93%
5th
10.25%
7th
6.94%
3rd
13.91%
3rd
16.07%
5th
15.23%
Eliminated
(quarter-final)
Rachel Hylton 8th
4.77%
8th
5.01%
3rd
12.21%
9th
3.81%
5th
10.39%
7th
4.48%
6th
6.48%
Eliminated
(week 7)
Daniel Evans 5th
7.21%
6th
8.23%
9th
5.94%
4th
10.83%
3rd
13.77%
6th
7.53%
Eliminated
(week 6)
Laura White 3rd
16.99%
4th
8.99%
7th
7.53%
7th
7.38%
6th
9.90%
Eliminated
(week 5)
Austin Drage 9th
3.63%
5th
8.98%
8th
6.22%
8th
6.86%
Eliminated
(week 4)
Scott Bruton 2nd
19.48%
9th
4.17%
10th
3.67%
Eliminated
(week 3)
Girlband 11th
2.17%
11th
2.30%
Eliminated
(week 2)
Bad Lashes 12th
1.51%
Eliminated
(week 1)
Bottom Two Bad Lashes,
Girlband
Girlband,
Lorenzo
Bruton,
Evans
Drage,
Hylton
Lorenzo,
White
Evans,
Hylton
Hylton,
JLS
No final showdown or judges' votes;
results were based on public votes alone
Walsh's vote
to eliminate
Bad Lashes Lorenzo Bruton Drage White Evans Hylton
Minogue's vote
to eliminate
Girlband Girlband Bruton Drage White N/A* JLS
Cole's vote
to eliminate
Girlband Girlband Bruton Drage Lorenzo Evans Hylton
Cowell's vote
to eliminate
Bad Lashes Lorenzo Evans Hylton White Evans Hylton
Eliminated Bad Lashes
2 of 4 Votes
Deadlock
Girlband
2 of 4 Votes
Deadlock
Scott Bruton
3 of 4 Votes
Majority Vote
Austin Drage
3 of 4 Votes
Majority Vote
Laura White
3 of 4 Votes
Majority Vote
Daniel Evans
3 of 3 Votes
Majority Vote
Rachel Hylton
3 of 4 Votes
Majority Vote
Ruth Lorenzo
15.23%
To Save
Diana Vickers
12.79%
To Save
Eoghan Quigg
25.33%
To Save
JLS
41.66%
To Win
  • In Week 6, Minogue did not need to vote as there was already a majority.

Ratings[]

Template:UK5ratings

Team Rankings[]

1. Girls (mentored by Cheryl Cole)

Alexburkemini Dianavickersmini Laurawhitemini

2. Over 25s (mentored by Dannii Minogue)

Ruthlorenzomini Rachelhyltonmini Danielevansmini

3. Boys (mentored by Simon Cowell)

Eoghanquiggmini Austindragemini Scottbrutonmini

4. Groups (mentored by Louis Walsh)

Jlsmini Girlbandmini Badlashesmini

Trivia[]

  • This is the first series to feature the show's first ever permanent replacement judge.
  • This is the only series where Simon mentors the Boys category. 2006 doesn't count since the Boys and Girls were mixed as the 16-24s that year.
  • This is the only series where two judges had all of their acts on The X Factor Live Tour.
  • This is the first series where one judge had a full category until Week 6.
  • This was the first series when an act received an bye during the live shows due to illness.
  • This was the first series where the complete public voting statics for the live show were revealed after the final.
  • This is the first series where the final four acts won the public vote throughout the live shows.
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