During its original 15-year run, the UK version of “The X Factor” attracted an average of 9.3 million viewers per season and launched the careers of several record-breaking singers, including Leona Lewis and Harry Styles. While some of the show’s winners have maintained successful music careers, others have faded into obscurity. Check out our photo gallery of “The X Factor winners” and where they are now.
“The X Factor” was first presented in September 2004 as the new and improved successor to ITV’s “Pop Idol” (2001-2003). Though a new season has not aired since 2018, unconfirmed reports of a revival have been circulating since June of 2022. Because of this indefinite hiatus, even the most recent victors have each had the opportunity to build somewhat of a resume.
To win “The X Factor,” a contestant first had to win the support of a majority of judges during their audition. If they then made it to the bootcamp stage, they were usually categorized by gender or age and assigned a mentor before the commencement of the live elimination rounds. They then mainly relied on viewer votes to get them to the end. The one performer or group who emerged victorious each season received a cash prize and a recording contract with Syco Music.
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Steve Brookstein (Season 1)
Image Credit: ITV Mentor: Simon Cowell
Won: December 11, 2004
Winner’s single: “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” (Phil Collins)Now: The show’s inaugural champ took a seven-year hiatus following the 2014 releases of his third album (“Forgotten Man”) and first book (“Getting Over the X”). He began debuting new music (both as a solo artist and with The Four Vandals) in the summer of 2021.
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Shayne Ward (Season 2)
Image Credit: ITV Mentor: Louis Walsh
Won: December 17, 2005
Winner’s single: “That’s My Goal” (original)Now: In 2015, he released his fourth and latest album, “Closer,” and began his three-year tenure as a regular on the soap opera “Coronation Street.” He is now raising two children with his fiancée, actress Sophie Austin.
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Leona Lewis (Season 3)
Image Credit: Fox Mentor: Simon Cowell
Won: December 16, 2006
Winner’s single: “A Moment Like This” (Kelly Clarkson)Now: Her first of five albums, “Spirit,” brought her three Grammy nominations and produced the Billboard chart-topping single “Bleeding Love.” Since releasing the album “I Am” in 2015, she has appeared on Broadway, acted as a judge on “The X Factor” and several other shows, and welcomed her first child with husband Dennis Jauch. Her “Christmas, with Love” tour is set to launch in late 2023.
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Leon Jackson (Season 4)
Image Credit: ITV Mentor: Dannii Minogue
Won: December 15, 2007
Winner’s single: “When You Believe” (Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston)Now: He has generally stayed out of the limelight since the release of his first and only album, “Right Now,” in 2008. Since his website is inoperative and he has been inactive on social media for three years, there is no indication that he will revive his career anytime soon.
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Alexandra Burke (Season 5)
Image Credit: ITV Mentor: Cheryl
Won: December 13, 2008
Winner’s single: “Hallelujah” (Leonard Cohen)Now: Since 2014, she has played lead roles in West End musicals such as “The Bodyguard,” “Chess,” and “Chicago.” She came in second place on “Strictly Come Dancing” in 2017 and released her third and most recent album one year later. In 2022, she gave birth to her first child with Premier League footballer Darren Randolph.
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Joe McElderry (Season 6)
Image Credit: ITV Mentor: Cheryl
Won: December 13, 2009
Winner’s single: “The Climb” (Miley Cyrus)Now: The youngest male “X Factor” winner set a record in 2012 as the first of the show’s champs to release a fourth album. His fifth, “Saturday Night at the Movies,” was made available in 2017. His “Celebrate the Music” tour commenced in March 2023.
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Matt Cardle (Season 7)
Image Credit: ITV Mentor: Dannii Minogue
Won: December 12, 2010
Winner’s single: “When We Collide” (Biffy Clyro)Now: He is working on new music both as a solo artist and as a Seven Summers band member. His last album, “Time to Be Alive,” was released in 2018.
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Little Mix (Season 8)
Image Credit: ITV Mentor: Tulisa
Won: December 11, 2011
Winners’ single: “Cannonball” (Damien Rice)Now: The show’s first non-solo victors currently rank among the top 10 best-selling girl groups of all time. They became a trio upon Jesy Nelson’s December 2020 departure and then announced a hiatus in early 2022, following the conclusion of their “Confetti” tour and the release of their greatest hits album, “Between Us.”
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James Arthur (Season 9)
Image Credit: ITV Mentor: Nicole Scherzinger
Won: December 9, 2012
Winner’s single: “Impossible” (Shontelle)Now: His fourth album, “It’ll All Make Sense in the End,” was made available in November 2021 and has produced six singles. His most successful song remains “Say You Won’t Let Go,” which reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2017.
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Sam Bailey (Season 10)
Image Credit: ITV Mentor: Sharon Osbourne
Won: December 15, 2013
Winner’s single: “Skyscraper” (Demi Lovato)Now: Following the launch of her second album, “Sing My Heart Out,” in 2016, this wife and mother of three has released half a dozen singles, including recent covers of “Edge of Seventeen” and “I’d Do Anything for Love.” In 2022, she performed for six weeks as Mrs. Potts in an English stage production of “Beauty and the Beast.”
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Ben Haenow (Season 11)
Image Credit: ITV Mentor: Simon Cowell
Won: December 14, 2014
Winner’s single: “Something I Need” (OneRepublic)Now: Since the 2018 release of his second album, “Alive,” he has continued to perform live on a consistent basis. He and his wife welcomed their first child in 2021.
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Louisa Johnson (Season 12)
Image Credit: ITV Mentor: Rita Ora
Won: December 13, 2015
Winner’s single: “Forever Young” (Bob Dylan)Now: The youngest winner in “X Factor” history supported the band Westlife on their fall 2022 UK tour. She has put out several singles as both a solo and featured artist but has yet to release an album or EP.
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Matt Terry (Season 13)
Image Credit: ITV Mentor: Nicole Scherzinger
Won: December 11, 2016
Winner’s single: “When Christmas Comes Around” (original)Now: His debut album, “Trouble,” was released in 2017. He has since appeared in musical stage versions of “Madagascar” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and starred as Stacee Jaxx in a touring production of “Rock of Ages.”
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Rak-Su (Season 14)
Image Credit: ITV Mentor: Simon Cowell
Won: December 3, 2017
Winners’ single: “Dimelo” (original)Now: This former quartet now functions as a trio following the November 2020 departure of Mustafa Rahimtulla. They released their fourth album (“Lost Tour”) and first mixtape (“Finally Free”) in April and September 2021, respectively.
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Dalton Harris (Season 15)
Image Credit: ITV Mentor: Louis Tomlinson
Won: December 2, 2018
Winner’s single: “The Power of Love” (Frankie Goes to Hollywood)Now: The most recent winner has performed semi-regularly since the release of his debut single, “Cry,” in 2019.
