X Factor Winners: Who Will Be In The The All-Stars Series?
The rumours are (reportedly) true! A new series of our favourite talent show will return with previous The X Factor winners.
In an interview, one of the former X Factor judges, Louis Walsh revealed that he:
‘Go(es) to Simon’s house in Malibu, it’s me Simon (Cowell) and Nicole (Scherzinger) and we’re doing the celebrity one’.
Not only does this confirm that the series is officially happening but also the judging panel! Anyone else gutted that Sharon Osbourne won’t be there?
The Irish entertainment manager went on to say:
‘It’s going to be great, and then we do the ‘best of’ all in one week, all the winners are coming back. Leona’s coming back, Alexandra, Shayne, they’re all coming back’.
It’s like all of our Christmas wishes just came true! Other celebrities that are rumoured to be taking part in the show are Gemma Collins, Martin Bashir (a journalist) as well as some Love Island contestants who may be forming a band. Now that we’d like to see…
Image Source/ The Telegraph
What have the previous X Factor winners been up to since their time on the live show?
Steve Brookstein – 2004 champion
Steve was the first ever champion of The X Factor and was judged by the show’s creator, Simon Cowell.
He initially failed to impress Sharon and Louis, but Simon was impressed and asked him to sing again the next day. He did and was put through to the next round. Despite winning the show, he was dropped by his record label eight months after his signing! He went on to say that The X Factor is:
‘one big theatre… turning music into the WWE‘ continuing to say that it is: ‘killing music’!
In more recent years, Steve has released new music. In 2014 he released the album ‘Forgotten Man’ and is back as the lead vocalist to the band ‘The Terrells’ performing jazz and soul pieces.
Image Source/ Instagram
Shayne Ward – 2005 Winner
Shayne was unanimously loved by all of the judges and went on to win the show by a 1.2% lead!
Since The X Factor, Shayne has continued with his music but he is now better known for being an actor, more specifically in Coronation Street.
His latest venture is in the psychological drama film, Stairs, also starring his fiancée, Sophie Austin.
Leona Lewis – 2006 Victor
She’s the girl who stole the nation’s – and world’s – hearts! Her biggest single, ‘Bleeding Love’ spent SEVEN weeks at number one in the UK charts and was the best-selling single of the year. The song was number one in over 30 countries.
Since then Leona has continued to create music, achieving success across the seas in the US. She is now an activist for animals rights and has even starred on Broadway and in films. She was Grizabella in ‘Cats’ on Broadway (2016) and had a minor role as Elena in Walking on Sunshine (2014).
Leona is now counting down the days to her upcoming wedding!
Image Source/ Instagram
Leon Jackson – 2007’s X Factor winner
Leon was the first ever win for that series’ new judge, Dannii Minogue. His win was unexpected and was called:
‘The biggest shock in the history of reality TV betting’.
Although his initial album was a hit, his follow-up records failed to impress the public.
The Scottish singer continues to write music even though he does not have a record label himself. His most recent hit single ‘Sick Love’ written alomgside The Voice: UK star, Vince Kidd for the latter.
Even though his fame isn’t as prominent as it once was, Leon continues to support charities.
Image Source/ Instagram
Alexandra Burke – 2008 champion
This The X Factor winner is the reason why you had the words to ‘Hallelujah’ in your head for months!
Alexandra has continued to stay within the public eye. Her later singles and albums have continued to do well; she reached the finals of the fifteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing; and took over from Beverly Knight as Rachel Marron in ‘The Bodyguard’ Musical.
That was just the beginning of her theatre journey, she has also starred in ‘Sister Act The Musical’ as Deloris, ‘Chess’ as Svetlana, ‘Chicago’ as Roxie Hart and recently returned back to her role as Rachel in ‘The Bodyguard’ Musical.
Thank you Cardiff for being so amazing !!! It’s been such a fantastic two weeks! @theCentre @TheBodyguardUK ❤️ #queenofthenight pic.twitter.com/qxpnbAX8jq
— Alexandra Burke (@alexandramusic) April 27, 2019
Image Source/ Twitter
Joe McElderry – 2009 winner
Joe has continued to win since beating Olly Murs to The X Factor crown! Although he didn’t beat ‘Rage Against The Machine’ to the Christmas number one that year!
He was the second winner of Popstar to Operastar in 2011 as well as the first series of The Jump in 2014.
He has also set many X Factor firsts! Joe is the only solo X Factor winner to have three of his five albums have positioned within the UK Top Three. Joe also was the first X Factor contestant to have a fourth album!
Nowadays, Joe is part of the stage show, Club Tropicana and seems to be loving every minute of it!
Image Source/ Instagram
Matt Cardle – 2010’s Victor
Matt was the ’10s first X Factor winner. He has gone through phases of popularity but has never stopped performing music.
The singer’s latest album is ‘Time To Be Alive’, which was released in 2018 by Sony.
Similarly to some of his fellow winners, Matt has turned to the theatre for work. He is currently starring in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and from August 30th will be starring as Mendel in ‘Falsettos’.
Image Source/ Instagram
Little Mix – 2011 winners
Little Mix were the first group to ever get past the show’s seventh week – let alone win it! They were the only winners of judge Tulisa Contosavlos; what a way to maintain a legacy.
Band members Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirwall and Jesy Nelson have continued to go from strength to strength. They have a number one album, have broken US records as well as having four UK number one singles.
Their latest single ‘Bounce Back’ is part of their upcoming sixth album.
James Arthur – 2012 Champion
James’ X Factor audition brought EVERYONE to tears! Even him!
The singer won the series for new judge Nicole Scherzinger. His winner’s song, a cover of ‘Impossible’ by Shontelle, went to number one and has become the best-selling debut single of the past decade! It is also the most successful winner’s song to date.
His music has continued to be popular; even collaborating with Anne-Marie for a cover of The Greatest Showman single, ‘Rewrite The Stars’. In May of this year he released the single ‘Falling like the Stars’. Someone enjoys a space theme!
Sam Bailey – 2013’s X Factor winner
Sam was the winner of the tenth series of the show as well as being the first ever win for long-term judge Sharon Osbourne. Her winner’s single, a cover of Demi Lovato’s ‘Skyscraper’, was the first X Factor winner’s song in three years to gain the spot of Christmas number one.
She has had two albums: her first was in 2014, titled ‘The Power of Love’ with SYCO records. Her second album, ‘Sing My Heart Out’ came out in 2016 through the record company Tiger Drum.
Sam has taken to the stage to enhance her career. In 2016 she starred as Mamma Morton in ‘Chicago’ and the following year she played Betty Simpson in ‘Fat Friends – The Musical’.
Most recently, she has starred in ’42nd Musical’ as Dorothy Brock.
Image Source/ Instagram
Ben Haenow – 2014’s Victor
Throughout this series, Ben was one of the most popular contestants, receiving the most public votes from weeks four to ten!
More recently, Ben has been on an acoustic tour around the UK with his brother, Alex who plays guitar.
He has two albums: ‘Ben Haenow’ which was released in 2015 and ‘Alive’ which was released in 2018.
Image Source/ Instagram
Louisa Johnson – 2015’s Winner
Louisa became the youngest ever X Factor winner at just 17! However, the younger audience didn’t come to love her as much as previous champions.
Her winner’s song, ‘Forever Young’ initially placed in the charts at nine. It dropped to twelve the following week making it the worst performing winner’s single of all time.
Louisa’s collaboration with Clean Bandit on the song, ‘Tears’ is perhaps her most famous song. Since the release she has been a bit more quiet and maybe there’s a reason…
— Louisa (@louisa) December 2, 2018
Image Source/ Twitter
Hope she’s feeling better soon!
Matt Terry – 2016 Champion
Yet another winner for Nicole Scherzinger. Along with James Arthur, Matt is the only winner to have been in the bottom two. He is also the second winner to have an original song as their winner’s single. Matt’s song, ‘When Christmas Comes Around’ was written by Ed Sheeran.
The Kent-born singer’s debut album, ‘Trouble’ entered the chart at 29 – making it the worst debut album from an X Factor winner!
Matt has broadened his horizons and was recently cast as Alex the lion in ‘Madagascar The Musical’.
Image Source/ Instagram
Rak-Su – 2017’s Victors
Rak-Su are the first ever boy band to win the singing show! They impressed us – and they judges – with their original songs; so much so that four of their songs were at the top of the iTunes chart whilst they were on the show.
The boys, Ashley Fongho, Jamaal Shurland, Mustafa Rahimtulla and Myles Stephenson, met at school. They won every week of the show except for week 3 when they were overtaken by Kevin Davy White by 1%!
Since their time on The X Factor, the boys have released new music – most recently, ‘Rotate (Clockwise)’.
Dalton Harris – 2018 Winner
2018 saw a new set of judges and a whole new winner! Dalton caused controversy as he had already won the Jamaican singing competition, Digicel Rising Stars in 2010 – winning $1.5 million JMD. However, his argument was that the show had been preparing him for The X Factor audition as well as the seven years after he won the show…
His winner’s single, ‘The Power Of Love’ was performed alongside previous winner James Arthur; making it the first ever duet to become a winner’s song.
And nobody has heard from him since! In the most recent edition of Wonderland magazine, Dalton stated in an interview:
‘I want to write honest songs – it’s important my lyrics come from a genuine place’.
Let’s hope it comes sooner rather than later!
Image Source/ Instagram
