‘Your Saturday night starts right here,’ Dermot O’Leary would exclaim as 19million viewers took their seats in front of the TV to tune in to The X Factor.
It’s a phrase that many will be familiar with, given the ITV talent show was a staple in the autumn TV schedule.
And now fans could be hearing it once more following reports that the iconic show is set to return seven years after it was retired from screens.
It would be a long-awaited comeback for the show that introduced the likes of One Direction, Little Mix, Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke.
While some contestants went on to dominate the charts, others didn’t quite break the music industry, despite their very memorable performances.
So without further ado, the Daily Mail takes a look back at X Factor‘s most iconic stars.
What happened to The X Factor’s most iconic stars? From the singers who hit the big time to those that crashed and burned (L-R presenter Dermot O’Leary and the 2017 judging panel Sharon Osbourne, Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger and Louis Walsh)
Chico
Chico Slimane’s hit single was one of the catchiest songs produced on the talent show – with It’s Chico time a tune that many struggled to get out of their head after first hearing it.
The Welsh-born contestant, who spent much of his youth in Morocco where he worked on his father’s farm as a goat herder, reached the quarter-finals of the 2005 series of The X Factor.
He entertained audiences with his energetic performances – having jumped into judge Sharon Osbourne’s pool while still holding a mic – before finishing in fifth place.
But while his debut single reached number one on the British charts in 2006, his singing career never really took off – and instead he swapped the showbiz lifestyle for a more relaxing role.
Chico now runs a wellness retreat in Portugal, having launched his own fitness books and classes, titled Block Fit.
In 2018, he suffered a stroke following a blood clot on the brain but miraculously made a full recovery.
Chico Slimane’s hit single was one of the catchiest songs produced on the talent show – with It’s Chico time a tune that many struggled to get out of their head after first hearing it
In 2026 he revealed he has clawed his way back from financial ruin after falling victim to an investment con (pictured in 2023)
Speaking shortly after the experience on Loose Women, he said: ‘You could say I’m a walking, talking miracle. I’m so grateful to be alive. I was in Butlins and I had finished a fitness class.
‘I got in the car and I was on the A3 on the phone to my wife. I was literally losing touch with reality. I said “hun I think I’m having a spiritual experience I will talk to you soon” so I pulled over.
‘I thought this was an awakening, an enlightenment, but it was a near-death experience.’
In 2026 he revealed he has clawed his way back from financial ruin after falling victim to an investment con.
Famed for his athletic physique, Slimani, 54, subsequently ploughed his money into a Middle Eastern investment scheme, centred on his passion for health and fitness – only to be left penniless.
He told The Sun: ‘It was a natural transition because I’ve been in the health and fitness industry all my life really at one time or another. As I was younger, I was into martial arts and I wanted to do natural bodybuilding. And then after that, it was always about looking after your health.’
‘It’s about getting the right knowledge as to how your body works, how your mind works, and how you can become the best version of yourself.
‘So it started actually with my first creation at the end of 2014. And that was at a time where we invested money, lots of friends of ours, in Dubai.
‘And unfortunately we got conned and we lost everything. And then it was a case of like, “Okay, you’ve obviously got a bigger plan for me type of thing”. I always thought, all right, that wasn’t meant to be.’
Slimani eventually returned to the health industry with BlockFit, a combination of dance moves, combat, yoga and meditation – carried out to original music.
One Direction
One Direction are the biggest success to ever come out of the X Factor going on to sell over 70million records and winning nearly 200 awards (L-R Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne, Niall Horan and Harry Styles on the show in 2010)
After six years in the spotlight the band took an indefinite hiatus in 2016 and Harry’s career has continued to soar astronomically (pictured during his Together Together tour this summer)
Undoubtedly One Direction are the biggest success to ever come out of the X Factor going on to sell over 70million records and winning nearly 200 awards.
Originally auditioning as five solo artists, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, Zayn Malik and the late Liam Payne were pulled together to create the almighty boyband.
With their cheeky smiles and melodic harmonies, the boys won the hearts of millions of ‘Directioners’ in almost every country on earth.
Their first single What Makes You Beautiful sent them soaring into the charts and the band went on to release five records and enjoy four headline tours.
Their concert documentary One Direction: This Is Us followed the group on their Take Me Home Tour and grossed $68 million.
However after six years in the spotlight the band took an indefinite hiatus in 2016.
Each pursuing their own solo projects, Harry’s career has continued to soar astronomically.
With four studio albums, three Grammy awards and huge sell out tours the singer is currently in the middle of his 30 night residency at Madison Square Gardens following a 12 night run at London Wembley earlier this summer.
Meanwhile Louis, Niall and Zayn are also enjoying successful solo careers with Louis also selling out Madison Square Gardens earlier this year and Niall heading out on his UK tour later this month.
Sadly Zayn was forced to cancel 22 US and UK tour dates after he was hospitalised with a mystery illness earlier this year.
The band faced tragedy in October 2024 when Liam died aged 31 on October 16 2024 after falling from the third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, and was found to have alcohol and cocaine in his system.
The band reunited at his funeral marking the first time they had been seen together since their hiatus.
Little Mix
After being mentored by Tulisa, Little Mix made history as the first girl band to win the show in 2011 (L-R Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Perrie Edwards and Jesy Nelson)
Jade, Perrie and Leigh-Anne went on to perform as a trio before announcing their hiatus and going to announce their final tour The Confetti tour in 2022 (pictured) after Jesy quit the band
A year after One Direction’s success it was time for a girl band to finally have their moment on the X Factor.
After being mentored by Tulisa, Little Mix made history as the first girl band to win the show in 2011.
Comprised of Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jesy Nelson, the group continued to make history after they became the first British female group to win the Best Group Award at the Brits in 2021.
With six studio albums and 50million records sold the band have a plethora of hits including Wings, Black Magic, Shout Out To My Ex, Woman Like Me, Power and Sweet Melody.
However it is not always smooth sailing, and in 2020 Jesy announced she was quitting the band after nine years, blaming the pressures of fame and mental health struggles for her shock decision.
Jade, Perrie and Leigh-Anne went on to perform as a trio before announcing their hiatus and going to announce their final tour The Confetti tour in 2022.
The foursome have all gone on to pursue solo careers with Jade in particular becoming the band’s stand-out star after winning Best Pop Act at the 2025 Brit Awards, making her the first former member of a girl band to win a solo Brit Award.
The star has been performing at a range of festivals over the summer, most recently playing Reading and Leeds over the August Bank holiday.
Meanwhile Jesy has released her documentary Jesy Nelson: Life Changing after her twin daughter, Ocean and Story, were diagnosed with SMA Type 1, a rare muscle-wasting condition.
Jesy has been at the forefront of a campaign to change the availability of the SMA Type 1 screening test and in July she revealed the test will now be rolled out across the whole of the UK as a result of her campaigning.
Sharing the latest update exclusively with the Daily Mail Jesy said she was ‘so proud’ of everyone involved as she celebrated the difference this will make to babies with SMA as she added ‘this is all I ever wanted’.
Rylan Clark
Rylan fell to floor and broke down into uncontrollable sobs during the ninth series of the show when Nicole Scherzinger revealed she was taking him through to the live shows
Rylan has gone on to have a very successful career as a presenter has become one of the UK’s biggest TV stars (pictured in February presenting This Morning with Emma Willis)
Rylan fell to floor and broke down into uncontrollable sobs during the ninth series of the show when Nicole Scherzinger revealed she was taking him through to the live shows.
Sporting platinum blonde hair in his audition before transforming to the dark locks we know him for now, Rylan was the ninth contestant to be eliminated.
Despite the singer facing criticism from fans as well as head judge Gary Barlow, who famously described him as a ‘joke act’, Rylan has gone on to have a very successful career as a presenter has become one of the UK’s biggest TV stars.
He’s presented Big Brother’s Bit On The Side, This Morning, a reboot of Ready Steady Cook and Supermarket Sweep – yet for some, Rylan Clark-Neal will always be remembered for his X Factor appearance.
He won over the nation with a popular stint on Celebrity Big Brother in 2013 before presenting the spin-off show Big Brother’s Bit On The Side and joining the This Morning family.
He also enjoyed a stint presenting on the BBC’s Strictly: It Takes Two and is part of the UK’s Eurovision team. He also has a Radio 2 show on Saturday afternoons from 3-6pm.
Meanwhile his friendship with Rob Rinder won the hearts of the nation after they paired up for their travel show Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour which has seen them travel around Italy and India.
The pair won a BAFTA for the docuseries in 2025.
Stacey Solomon
She was just 19 years old when she first stepped onto The X Factor stage back in 2009 and finished in third place (pictured with Dermot)
Stacey went on to marry Joe Swash and the pair share children Rex, seven, Rose, four, and Belle, three, as well as Stacey’s sons Zachary, 18, and Leighton, 14, from previous relationships
She was just 19 years old when she first stepped onto The X Factor stage back in 2009.
And despite finishing in third place, Stacey has come a long way since her days vying for pop stardom on the ITV talent show.
In the following years, the media personality, 36, reinvented herself as a TV presenter and DIY guru with legions of devoted fans.
After winning I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in 2010, she became a familiar face on the small screen with appearances on Celebrity Juice, A League Of Their Own and Through The Keyhole.
She secured one of her biggest gigs to date when she became a panellist on Loose Women in 2016.
The star began to build up her social media following too and quickly became known for her cleaning and DIY hacks.
Stacey’s large fanbase lead her to release her book Tap to Tidy: Organising, Crafting & Creating Happiness in a Messy World in 2021 and host BBC show Sort Your Life Out – which she won a National Television Award for in 2024 and 2025.
Stacey has also entered the world of business after becoming the part owner of independent hair care brand REHAB in her first ever investment.
In February it was revealed Stacey had hit the impressive £10million mark in her business empire as her career continues to go from strength to strength.
New figures shared this week show that the TV star’s firm called Keymap Entertainment Ltd is now worth £10.1m for 2025 – up from £7.4m in the previous year.
Meanwhile in her personal life Stacey went on to marry EastEnders star Joe Swash and the pair share children Rex, seven, Rose, four, and Belle, three, as well as Stacey’s sons Zachary, 18, and Leighton, 14, from previous relationships.
They have also aired two series of their reality show Stacey & Joe which follows their family’s life at Pickle Cottage. A third series confirmed for later this year.
Olly Murs
He rose to fame when he finished runner-up on the sixth series of The X Factor in 2009 and his 2018 album You Know I Know made it to number two in the Official UK Albums Chart
The star, 42, has achieved over £30million in record sales and starred on The Voice as a coach from 2017 until 2023 (pictured performing in June 2025)
He rose to fame when he finished runner-up on the sixth series of The X Factor in 2009 and his 2018 album You Know I Know made it to number two in the Official UK Albums Chart.
He’s bagged 18 Top 40 hits including four number ones as well as four number one albums across the course of his career.
The star, 42, has achieved over £30million in record sales and starred on The Voice as a coach from 2017 until 2023.
Olly also struck up a friendship with former TOWIE star Mark Wright and the pair host a Saturday breakfast show on Heart Radio.
In 2024 and 2025 he headed out on the road as the support act for Take That before revealing this year that he would be taking a step back from touring and performing for a year to prioritise ‘being a present father and husband’.
The singer welcomed son Albert in September 2025 with his personal trainer wife Amelia Tank, 34, whom he happily married in 2023, and they also share 19-month-old daughter Madison.
‘When you become a dad yourself, it really puts things into perspective. It’s a lovely year of me working on side projects and on smaller things, not worrying about music or touring,’ he told The Mirror.
‘This year is just (about) being a present father, present husband, and being there for my wife and kids, just enjoying a break.’
Alexandra Burke
Bad Boys was all anyone was singing after Alexandra Burke was crowned winner of The X Factor in 2008
Alexandra is currently starring as Chaka Khan in the new I’m Every Woman – The Chaka Khan Musical on the West End
Bad Boys was all anyone was singing after Alexandra Burke was crowned winner of The X Factor in 2008.
The singer was just 19 when Beyoncé joined her for a duet of her 2007 hit Listen in the X Factor final, and then invited her to support her on tour.
It triggered a stratospheric rise for the teenage star with her debut single Hallelujah reaching Number One and selling over a million copies in the UK, a first for a British female solo artist.
Her debut album Overcome clocked up a further two No 1 singles, Bad Boys and Start Without You, and she went from playing pub gigs to singing with Elton John at London’s O2 Arena.
‘I remember thinking, “What am I doing here?”’ she told The Daily Mail’s Weekend Magazine.
‘And I’ll never forget that when I met Elton he kissed me on my lips. I was like, “I’ve been kissed by the king!” I was doing pub gigs less than six months before, and now I had a record deal – what the hell is that?’
Alexandra went on to make her debut in the world of musicals with The Bodyguard, before becoming the first ever black Narrator in Joseph And The Technicolour Dreamcoat.
In 2017 the star competed in Strictly Come Dancing where she finished in second place.
Alexandra is currently starring as Chaka Khan in the new I’m Every Woman – The Chaka Khan Musical on the West End.
Jedward
Jedward – aka John and Edward Grimes – are Irish twins who starred on The X Factor in 2009, finishing in sixth place while being mentored by Louis Walsh
Following their X Factor appearance, they’ve had successful TV careers, presenting their own children’s television shows and appearing on Celebrity Big Brother (pictured)
Jedward – aka John and Edward Grimes – are Irish twins who starred on The X Factor in 2009, finishing in sixth place while being mentored by Louis Walsh.
At the time, their outlandish performances divided opinion, with not everyone being a fan – yet the duo have gone on to release three albums, including the hit cover Under Pressure (Ice Ice Baby).
Despite being a novelty act, two of their albums went double platinum in Ireland, while they’ve also represented Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011 and 2012.
Following their X Factor appearance, they’ve had successful TV careers, presenting their own children’s television shows and appearing on Celebrity Big Brother and Celebrity Coach Trip.
However, they’ve previously posted a string of allegations against the show and the music industry on Twitter.
‘It shouldn’t be normal that all artists have to face the emotional and legal battles when all they wanted to do is sing,’ they posted on their joint account.
They added: ‘The biggest regret in life was not telling the judges on X Factor to f*** off. The fact that every contestant has to act like their judge mentors them! When in reality all they care about is their pay cheque!’
Earlier this year John appeared on Celebrity Ex On The Beach and in March the singer launched his new girlfriend in a sweet post shared to Instagram.
The Jedward singer, 34, shared a few sweet snaps of himself with the brunette as he penned: ‘Here’s to a new chapter and making memories with the best girl xxx.’
Wagner
Former Brazilian P.E teacher, Wagner Fiuza-Carrilho will always be one of the most iconic contestants on the talent show with his frilly shirts and comic appeal
Despite moving back to his native Brazil, last year Wagner revealed he had returned to the UK after his attempts to launch a hair transplant business failed
Former Brazilian P.E teacher, Wagner Fiuza-Carrilho will always be one of the most iconic contestants on the talent show with his frilly shirts and comic appeal.
He initially didn’t make it to the live shows in 2010 but was brought back as a wildcard by mentor Louis Walsh – who is well known for loving a novelty act.
The twice-married star made it through to the quarter finals but ruffled plenty of feathers along the way, exiting the seven-bedroom X Factor house in Hertfordshire after clashing with the other contestants.
After finishing in sixth place, the 70-year-old hit headlines when he revealed he was having a baby with his then 20-year-old girlfriend Lydia Longville.
When revealing his partner’s pregnancy, Wagner admitted he was already father to a five-year-old from a previous relationship, but that they’d become estranged.
Wagner told love it! magazine of his advancing years: ‘Chances are, I have 20 or 30 years left, but there’s nothing I can do about it. If I didn’t do karate, I may as well step into a coffin now, though.’
Lydia said: ‘He was better-looking in person, and had lovely eyes. Let’s just say his experience has paid off. He didn’t serenade me with a song in the bedroom, but there’s always been lots of sexual chemistry.’
Despite moving back to his native Brazil, last year Wagner revealed he had returned to the UK after his attempts to launch a hair transplant business failed.
Showing off his new ripped physique in an interview for FUBAR Radio he told host Andrew White: ‘I went to Brazil for 22 months, and I came back in December, I went there to open a Vinci hair clinic franchise.
‘A hair transplant plant clinic, but I couldn’t stand living there. And my original plan, it was to have the clinic there and run it from here. It wouldn’t work.
‘I would have to be there. So I sold it back to the Da Vinci hair clinic in friendship with the owner, a good friend of mine, and I’m back.’
Honey G
Honey G, whose real name is Anna Gilford, commanded attention with her outgoing ensembles featuring shimmering tracksuits and caps when appearing on the talent show in 2016
Last year she looked unrecognisable as she showed off her toned down new style as she debuted a much more low-key look, wearing an elegant black lace blouse
Honey G, whose real name is Anna Gilford, commanded attention with her outgoing ensembles featuring shimmering tracksuits and caps when appearing on the talent show in 2016.
The entertainment act, who finished in fifth place, delighted fans with her energetic performances.
And while her rapping career didn’t hit the big time, it appears the famous phase is still impacting her life after she revealed she’d been dismissed from a new job as an estate agent after just 40 days in 2018.
Honey revealed to The Sun that she was fired from her job, explaining: ‘They didn’t realise how famous I am… My boss had told me that he was expecting me to give up my music career, which I am obviously not prepared to do.
‘Music is my love and passion, and my ambitions are about being a worldwide music artist. I had no intention of being an estate agent long term. I was hoping that a big opportunity for my music career would come in. I do believe I belong on stage.’
While competing on The X Factor, Honey, who was mentored by Sharon Osbourne, became known for always hiding her face behind large sunglasses and a baseball cap, with the star refusing to remove them.
However last year she looked unrecognisable as she showed off her toned down new style at the Trans+ history community event at Clifford Chance she debuted a much more low-key look, wearing an elegant black lace blouse.
Honey G previously showed off her impressive two stone weight loss transformation.
The singer admitted she looks ‘completely different’ after shedding two stone from her intense gym workouts and said she gained a lot of ‘body confidence’.
She first lost the weight during lockdown in 2021 and since decided to run four triathlons and do a 20-mile run.
