The X Factor is a British reality television music competition, created by Simon Cowell. Premiering on 4 September 2004, it was produced by Fremantle's British entertainment company, Thames, and Cowell's production company Syco Entertainment for ITV, as well as simulcast on Virgin Media One in Ireland. The programme ran for around 445 episodes across fifteen series, each one primarily broadcast late in the year, until its final episode in December 2018. The majority of episodes were presented by Dermot O'Leary, with some exceptions: the first three series were hosted by Kate Thornton; while Caroline Flack and Olly Murs hosted the show for the twelfth series.
Louis Walsh, longest-serving judge on The X Factor in all but two series.
Sharon Osbourne, a judge for the first four series, and then again in 2013, and 2016–17
Dermot O'Leary served the longest as the programme's host from 2007, with a one-year break in 2015
Sharon Osbourne
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Sharon Rachel Osbourne is a British television personality, music manager, and author. She is married to heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne and came to prominence while appearing on The Osbournes (2002–2005), a reality television show that aired on MTV, which followed her family's daily life. Osbourne later became a judge on television talent competition shows, including The X Factor and America's Got Talent (2007–2012).
Osbourne in February 2007