Connect with us

ATV Today

The X Factor: Previous Winners

The X Factor: Previous Winners

Joe McElderryTonight the seventh series of The X Factor will kick off with thousands of people across the country auditioning in front of the judges in the hope of getting through to the next stage. Everyone of them dreaming the impossible; of winning The X Factor. However, winning the competition may not be all its cracked up to be as while Alexandra Burke and Leona Lewis may still be familiar names to audiences who remembers Leon Jackson or Steve Brookstein? We take a look back at the previous six winners of The X Factor.

 

The first series of The X Factor in 2004 was won by Steve Brookstein who was mentored by Simon Cowell – his victory over the other acts caused some eye brows to be raised. Whole Brookstein may have won the competition he has had little lasting success and is barely referred too within the competition itself. According to tabloid reports Brookstein and Cowell reportedly fell out as the music tycoon wanted the X Factor winner to record cover songs rather than original ones – Brookstein was later dropped from the record label. However, the first season of X Factor did give us G4 who were dubbed the real winners of the competition and went on to enjoy success with their music careers.

 

The second series in 2005 was won by Shayne Ward who has enjoyed success within the music industry though this has since been dwarfed by Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke. One of Ward’s singles was used as the opening theme of Hollyoaks: In The City. The popularity of the competition also meant that runners up Andy Abraham, Journey South, Maria Lawson and Chico Slimani all landed music contracts as well. Abraham also went on to represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008 though his song did not rate well with Eurovision viewers. Ward’s second album Breathless was released in 2007 and he went on a world tour to promote it.

 

Leona Lewis, of course, won the third series in 2006 and is perhaps the most memorable X Factor winner so far – and possibly the most successful too. Lewis beat Ben Mills and former Brookside actor Ray Quinn to win the competition and her single A Moment Like This was the fastest selling single in the UK of 2007. Lewis followed this success with Bleedin Love which also shot to Number One not just in the UK but in America and various other countries as well. Leona Lewis continues to enjoy success with her music career to this day with sell-out tours including a new one this year.

 

The fourth season of the X Factor in 2007 is more memorable for its drama that its winner; Leon Jackson. The series saw Dermot O’Leary take over as presenter from Kate Thornton while Danni Minogue joined the judges panel and Louis Walsh was temporarily replaced by Brian Friedman. The series was also Sharon Osbournes last as a judge following high profile tension between her and Minogue. While Jackson’s first single did reach number one he was later dropped by the record label but is, reportedly, continuing her work within the music industry – trying a different genre of music.

 

The fifth season in 2008 saw the debut of Cheryl Cole as a Judge following the departure of Sharon Osbourne. Cole mentored winner Alexandra Burke who beat boyband JLS to win the series – though both Burke and JLS have gone to find success within the industry. JLS, thanks to a high profile support campaign, came very close to winning but coming second hasn’t dented them at all – they have released a number of chart-topping singles and sell out tours. Burke’s single, Hallelujah was the first selling single of all time according to reports

 

Which brings us up to the sixth season in 2009 which was won by Joe McElderry. Danyl Johnson was an early favourite to win the series but he was eliminated towards the end of the live shows while many feared that Jedward duo Edward & John Grimes would win. Thankfully though common sense won out and they were booted off – though they have since released a cover version of Under Pressure. Joe McElderry beat Olly Murs and Stacey Solomon to win the competition but lost out to Rage Against the Machine for the prestigious Christmas Number One slot. More recently the singer, who is working on his first album, hit the headlines after admitting he was gay.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

More in

Advertisement

Trending

Advertisement
To Top