Dermot O'Leary returns to present the opening set of auditions from the fifth series. Cheryl Cole joins the judging panel. The auditions come from Manchester, London and Cardiff. The judges are worried about the lack of talent in Manchester after some awful auditions. When the auditions move on to London the boyband JLS impresses all the judges as do Shauna, Austin and Rachel. The auditions move on to Cardiff where brothers Ant and Seb fail to impress the judges. 16 year old Alexandra fairs much better and manages to impress all the judges as does Marlon, Andrew and Aimee. Cheryl is shocked when Nikk Mager shows up for the auditions who appeared with her on Popstars The Rivals. Nikk doesn't make it through and Cheryl finds it hard to see him fail.

More hopefuls audition for the judges hoping to make it through to the next stage of the competition. The judges are in Birmingham where they are not impressed by the talent on offer. Girl Band manage to impress the judges though and make it through. Shirley shows up and has a crush on Louis. Even though her singing isn't the best Louis and Cheryl vote to put her through. Others who impress and make it through include Marika, Jade, Alan and Liam. The auditions move on to London where Holly performs for the judges but doesn't get the reaction she was hoping for. The judges ears are subjected to more awful renditions before 15 year old Eoghan manages to impress all the judges. Others to impress in London include Imani and Michael. Alexandra returns to audition after making the final seven in the under 25 category in 2005. She manages to impress all the judges and Louis calls her world class.

Dermot presents more highlights from the auditions. The auditions start in London this week and 80 year old Cyril manages to impress the judges and make it through. He is is followed through by Timothy, Just Those Girls and Rachel. 23 year old Guylene is not to successful though and makes the judges laugh. The auditions move on to Manchester where Diana 16 year old impresses the judges with her voice and look. More hopefuls find their hopes being dashed by the judges comments. 19 year old Scott impresses the judges and makes it through as do twin sisters Francine and Nicola. Laura manages to impress all the judges with her voice and Simon believes she could be a potential winner of the series. Ariel manages to get on the wrong side of the judges with her bad attitude and Simon isn't impressed by her performance either.

The auditions start in Glascow this wee. The auidtions get off to a bad start when Suzanne fails to impress the judges and things dont improve after that. Things do improve though when Rikki manages to impress the judges. Also making it through are Andrew, Carol, High Voltage and Kirsty. The auditions move on to London where 17 year old Joelle manages to impress all the judges. Husband and wife act Hard Wearin' are not as successful though and fail to make it through as doesn't Ashwin who is isn't happy with the judges comments . Others to impress though and make it through include Joseph, EFX, Yingjung, Stance and Daniel.

This week the auditions start in Cardiff. 51 year old Ceri auditions for the judges for the 3rd time but once again she fails to make it through and those that follow her see their hopes dashed as well. Girl duo Adante are more successful though and manage to make it through. The auditions move onto London where Ryan manages to impress all the judges except Simon. Simon finds himself clashing with Cheryl about some of the hopefuls. Others to impress in London include Mali, Annastasia and Stacey. The judges ears are subjected to more awful auditions before Hannah performs for the judges. Hannah manages to impress all the judges with her voice. The auditions move onto Birmingham girl group Bad Lashes manages to impress Cheryl and Simon. Anthony returns to audition three years after his last audition hoping to impress Simon this time. With a new image Anthony does much better this time but still fails to make it through.

Dermot returns to present the last of the audition shows. More dreams are dashed by the judges comments. Duane from London manages to impress all the judges and makes it through to the next stage of the competition. Others to impress include Betty, Michael, Lauren, Katie, Duranee and Louise. 18 year old Amy manages to impress all the judges with her voice and sails through to the next stage of the competition. School caretaker Terry is not so successful though but still manages to keep his smile even though he fails to make it through. More hopefuls see their hopes dashed after their performances. 20 year old Lisa impresses the judges when they learn that she has lost 18 stone in weight and the judges are split in their decision after hearing her voice whether she should make it through. After much deliberation Simon has a change of heart and decides that she should go through. 15 year old Welsh schoolboy Jay manages to impress all the judges and makes it through. Others to impress and make and make it though include girl group Desire, Ruth and family group 4 Instinct. Alan's performance makes the judges laugh and it brings the auditions to a close.

Those who have made it through the audition process return to face the judges once again at boot camp at London's O2 Arena. The judges have to dash the hopes of some of them by sending them home but ninety make it through. Those that have made it through are then called back on stage and are told that one third of them will now be sent home without getting the chance to perform again. The judges deliberate on who to save and on who to send home. The hopefuls are sent to one of three rooms where those that haven't made it through to the next stage are then given the bad news.

The remaining hopefuls have one last opportunity to impress the judges before another set of them is sent home. The judges learn which section of the competition they will be mentoring for the rest of the series.

The remaining hopefuls in each category discover which judge will be mentoring them for the rest of the series. The hopefuls visit the judges at their homes and have one last chance to impress before the judges make their decision.

The hopefuls find out whether they have made it through to the live finals or have been eliminated at the last hurdle.

The final 12 perform live for the first time hoping to impress the judges and viewing public. Daniel receives bad comments from all the judges. All of the under 25 female girls manage to impress the judges. At the end of the show the phone lines are opened for the first public vote of the series.

Dermot returns with the results of the first viewer vote. Last year's winner Leon Jackson returns to perform his new single live on stage. Bad Lashes and Girl Band learn that they are in the bottom two and have to perform again in the final showdown. The judges are split over who to send home so it goes to deadlock where the act with the lowest amount of public votes are sent home. Bad Lashes have the lowest amount of votes and are eliminated from the competition.

The remaining 11 acts return to perform live for the second time. This week they have to perform Michael Jackson songs. The judges give their verdicts on what they have heard. The girls and Austin mange to get the best comments from the judges. Those in the over 25 category receive the most critical comments. At the end of the show the phone lines are opened for this week's public vote.

Dermot returns with the results of tonight's public vote. Girls Aloud perform their latest single live on stage. Ruth and Girl Band discover that they are in the bottom two this week and have to perform again in the final showdown. The judges are split in their decision so the decision goes to deadlock. The vote goes back to the public vote and Girl Band are sent home.

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Dermot returns with the results of tonight's public vote. Daniel and Scott learn that they are in the bottom two this week and have to perform again in the final showdown. The judges then decide to save Daniel leaving Scott eliminated from the competition.

Down to nine acts and the contestants must sing again for a place in next week's show. This week they must sing classic disco songs for the judges and the viewers at home. The viewers will then vote for their favourite and the two acts with the lowest number of votes will be forced to sing again for the judges who will then decide to save one act.

Dermot returns with the results of tonight's public vote. Will Young performs live on stage his latest single. Austin and Rachel learn that they are in the bottom two and will have to perform again in the final showdown. After they have both performed the judges elect to save Rachel leaving Austin eliminated from the competition.

Dermot O'Leary hosts the fifth live show of the series. This week, the eight remaining acts meet Mariah Carey and must perform her songs for the judges and the viewers. The viewers will then vote for their favourite and the two acts with the lowest number of votes will sing again for the judges who will choose to save one act and send the other home.

Dermot returns with the results of tonight's vote. Mariah Carey performs on stage. The judges are shocked when it is revealed when Laura and Ruth are in the bottom two. After both girls have performed again the judges decide to save Ruth leaving Laura eliminated from the competition.

The remaining acts return to perform live for the 6th time. This week's theme is the best of British. The judges give their verdicts on what they have heard after each act has performed. At the end of the show the phone lines are opened for this week's public vote.

Dermot returns with this week's results. Leona Lewis performs live on stage. Daniel and Rachel learn that they are in the bottom two and have to perform again ion the final showdown. After both acts have performed the judges decide to save Rachel leaving Daniel eliminated from the competition.

The remaining acts return to perform live for the 7th time knowing they will have to be on top form to impress the judges and viewing public. This week's theme is Take That songs. The judges give their verdicts on what they have heard after each act has performed. At the end of the show the phone lines are opened for this week's public vote.

Dermot returns with the results of tonight's viewer vote. Lat year's finalists Rhydian Roberts and Same Difference both perform their new singles live on the show. JLS and Rachel learn that they are n the bottom two and have to perform again in the final showdown. The judges decide to save JLS leaving Rachel eliminated from the competition.

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Dermot returns with the results of tonight's viewer vote. Dermot announces which four acts have the most amount of votes and have made it through to next week. Ruth learns that she has finished in fifth place and is out of the competition.

With only four acts remaining in the competition, we reach the 9th live show of the series. The contestants must each perform 2 songs for the viewers' votes. The 2 acts with the lowest number of votes will have to sing again judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue who, for the last time, will choose an act to send home.

Dermot returns with the results of tonight's viewer vote. Il Divo perform live on the showw before Dermot announces that Alexandra, JLS and Eoghan have made it through to the final meaning Diana has just missed out.

There are only three acts remaining in this week's grand final. After auditions, boot camp, the mentors' houses and nine live shows, the three acts remaining in the competition sing for one last time for the audience vote. The act with the highest number of votes will be crowned The X Factor champion of 2008 winning a £1m recording contract with Simon Cowell. Dannii Minogue is the only judge with no acts left in the competition.

Dermot returns with the final results. Beyonce sings live on stage before Dermot announces that Eoghan has finished in third place. JLS and Alexandra then both perform what will be the winner's song. The phone lines are then closed and Dermot announces Alexandra as the winner. Alexandra performs the winner's song again before all the finalists join her on stage.