The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent, contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. Created by Simon Cowell, the show began in September 2004 and has since aired annually from August/September through to December. The show is produced by FremantleMedia’s Thames and Cowell’s production company SYCOtv. It is broadcast on the ITV network in the United Kingdom and TV3 in Ireland, with spin-off behind-the-scenes show The Xtra Factor screened on ITV2. It is the originator of the international The X Factor franchise. The X Factor was devised as a replacement for the highly successful Pop Idol, which was put on indefinite hiatus after its second series, largely because Cowell, who was a judge on Pop Idol, wished to launch a show to which he owned the television rights. The perceived similarity between the two shows later became the subject of a legal dispute. The “X Factor” of the title refers to the undefinable “something” that makes for star quality.

The original judging panel was Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh. Dannii Minogue joined the panel in series 4, and Cheryl Cole replaced Osbourne in series 5 after her departure. After series 7, Cowell and Cole both left to judge the American version of the show whilst Minogue left the show due to commitments on Australia’s Got Talent. Kelly Rowland, Tulisa Contostavlos and Gary Barlow then joined Walsh on the judging panel for series 8, though Rowland announced she would not return for series 9 and was replaced by Nicole Scherzinger. Osbourne later returned in 2013, replacing Contostavlos. Since 2007, the show has been presented by Dermot O’Leary, who replaced original host Kate Thornton. The show is split into a series of phases, following the contestants from auditions through to the grand finale. In the original televised audition phase of the show, contestants sang in an audition room in front of just the judges. From series 6 onwards, auditionees sing on a stage in front of the judges and a live audience. Successful auditionees go through to “bootcamp” and then to “judges’ houses”, where judges narrow down the acts in their category down to three or four acts to mentor for the live shows, where the public vote for their favourite acts following weekly live performances by the contestants.

The series explores Marvel’s rich legacy of pioneering characters, creators and storytelling to reflect the world outside your window. Each documentary, helmed by a unique filmmaker, showcases the intersections of storytelling, pop culture, and fandom within the Marvel Universe. Episodes in this anthology series will cover topics including Marvel’s world-spanning artists, the trailblazing women of Marvel Comics, discovering the “forgotten” characters of Marvel, and much more.

You saw him on Ghost Adventures, now, Dakota Laden takes his sister and best friend on a cross-country road trip to visit the most haunted locations in America.

BondiInkTattooCrewisatattoorealityserieswhichfollowstherunningofasuccessfultattoostudioinworld-famousBondiBeach,Australia.

In a series of inspiring home makeovers, world-renowned tidying expert Marie Kondo helps clients clear out the clutter — and choose joy.

A high-stakes competition series where twelve players work together in challenges to add money to a pot that only one of them will win at the end. Among the players is one person who has secretly been designated “the Mole” and tasked with sabotaging the group’s money-making efforts. In the end, one player will outlast their competition and expose the Mole to win the prize pot.

Monty Don sets out to discover the true essence of these elegant gardens and what we have taken from them. Armed with his extensive knowledge and passion for all aspects of horticulture, Monty travels through Japan to explore the best gardens the country has to offer. From plants and architecture to new techniques and differing climates, this series is full of rich colour and vibrant landscapes as Monty examines how a mix of history and new innovations are shaping the gardens of Japan today and how they are perceived. Get ready to enter an enticing world, full of enchanting stories, wonderful characters and, of course, beautiful gardens.

TLC explores the scary, exhilarating, frustrating, joyful and ultimately life-changing experience of parenthood with new series RATTLED. As seen through the lives of four diverse couples from across the country, viewers will go along for the ride as they watch these new parents experience a wide range of challenges, triumphs and milestones, for the first year of their newborns’ lives. Executive Produced by Flower Films’ Drew Barrymore and Nancy Juvonen. The couples featured all face different circumstances as they navigate how their new baby will fit into their already established lives. Whether it is balancing work and their newborn, feeling pressure from family members’ about how they think the baby should be raised or making sure that their relationships with their significant others remain intact, they will never forget this period of adjustment in their lives.

Jeff Schwarz, the owner of a large liquidation house, works seven days a week following leads and tips that could bring him to the next big buy. Back at the shop, his crew works to make room for the new merchandise by finding buyers for the old.

People are moving to Montana in droves and move-in ready properties are getting scooped up quickly. Real estate mavens Jackie Wickens and Trecie Wheat Hughes help clients sort through a variety of historic homes from log cabins to ranch houses in need of a little TLC. With Trecie’s sharp design sense and Jackie’s contruction know-how, they’ll find their clients diamonds in the rough and transform them into Montana dream homes.

Alaska is a hotbed for UFO sightings, abductions and extraterrestrial encounters. Why are these otherworldly visitors drawn to America’s last frontier? Shocking new evidence and personal testimony from local witnesses shed light on the alien activity.

Chef Ramsay attempts to do the impossible: turn one ordinary and empty restaurant into the most popular, sought-after venue in town. There’s no time for polite small talk as he embarks on his mission to turn around the fortunes of each restaurant in just one week and save them from their living nightmares.