X Factor (Italian TV series)
X Factor Italia is a TV show which airs on prime time in Italy. The singing competition is the Italian version of Britain's The X Factor. It was hosted until Season 4 by Francesco Facchinetti, who has been replaced by Alessandro Cattelan since Season 5. While the first four seasons were aired on Rai Due, the second channel of Italian public television service, at the moment the show is broadcast on Sky Uno, the main channel of Sky Italy.
The judges, who all belong to the Italian and international music or television world, were 3 from Season 1 to Season 3. Since Season 4, the 16-24 category was split into two parts, following the British example, therefore the judges became 4.
The programme's success is witnessed by the number of singers who became famous after the show. Among the others we can notice Giusy Ferreri from Season 1, Noemi from Season 2, Marco Mengoni from Season 3, Ruggero Pasquarelli from Season 4, Francesca Michielin from Season 5, Chiara Galiazzo, Mahmood and Le Donatella from Season 6, Michele Bravi from Season 7, Lorenzo Fragola and Madh from Season 8, Enrico Nigiotti and Måneskin from Season 11.
After the huge success of the 12th season, won by the rapper Anastasio, the show was confirmed for a 13th edition.
Series Summary
- Act in "Mara Maionchi" category
- Act in "Morgan" category
- Act in "Simona Ventura" category
- Act in "Claudia Mori" category
- Act in "Anna Tatangelo" category
- Act in "Elio" category
- Act in "Enrico Ruggieri" category
- Act in "Arisa" category
- Act in "Mika" category
- Act in "Victoria Cabello" category
- Act in "Fedez" category
- Act in "Skin" category
- Act in "Alvaro Soler" category
- Act in "Manuel Agnelli" category
- Act in "Levante” category
- Act in "Lodo Guenzi" category
- Act in "Samuel" category
- Act in "Malika Ayane" category
- Act in "Sferra Ebasta" category
- Act in "Emma Marone" category
- Act in "Hell Raton" category
Finalists, categories and judges
Key:| Series | Morgan | Simona Ventura | Mara Maionchi | N/A |
| One | Groups Aram Quartet Cluster Sei Ottavi 4 Sound FM Cherries | 25+ Giusy Ferreri Emanuele Dabbono Annalisa Baldi Gino Scannapiego Antonio Marino Dante Pontone Adriano De Pasquale | 16-24 Tony Maiello Ilaria Porceddu Silvia Aprile Luna Di Nardo Vittoria Hyde Maria Teresa d’Alise | N/A |
| Two | 25+ Matteo Becucci Noemi Laura Binda Enrico Nordio Chiarastella Calconi Andrea Gioacchini Elisa Rossi | 16-24 Jury Magliolo Daniele Magro Ambra Marie Facchetti Serena Abrami Giacomo Salvietti | Groups The Bastard Sons of Dioniso Farias Sisters of Soul Sinacria Sinphony | N/A |
| Three | Morgan | Claudia Mori | Mara Maionchi | N/A |
| Three | 16-24 Marco Mengoni Silver Chiara Ranieri Cristiana Soriano Mario Spada Ornella Felicetti | 25+ Giuliano Rassu Paola Canestrelli Sofia Damiano Fiorella Francesca Ciampa Francesco Gramegna | Groups Yavanna Luana Biz A&K Horrible Porno Stuntmen | N/A |
| Four | Enrico Ruggeri | Anna Tatangelo | Mara Maionchi | Elio |
| Four | Groups Kymera Effetto Doppler Borghi Bros | Girls Marika Lermani Dorina Leka Sofia Buconi Alessandra Falconieri | Boys Davide Mogavero Stefano Filipponi Ruggero Pasquarelli Dami | 25+ Nathalie Giannitrapani Nevruz Joku Cassandra Raffaele Manuela Zanier |
| Five | Morgan | Simona Ventura | Arisa | Elio |
| Five | Boys Vincenzo Di Bella Valerio De Rosa Davide Papasidero | Girls Francesca Michielin Nicole Tuzii Jessica Mazzoli | 25+ Antonella Lo Coco Claudio Cera Rahma Hafsi | Groups I Moderni Cafè Margot Le 5 |
| Six | 25+ Chiara Galiazzo Ics Romina Falconi | Boys Davide Merlini Daniele Coletta Alessandro Mahmoud Nicola Aliotta | Groups Frères Chaos Donatella Akmé | Girls Cixi Nice Yendry Fiorentino |
| Seven | Morgan | Simona Ventura | Mika | Elio |
| Seven | Boys Michele Bravi Andrea D'Alessio Lorenzo Iuracà | Groups Ape Escape Street Clerks FreeBoys | Girls Violetta Zironi Gaia Galizia Valentina Tioli Roberta Pompa | 25+ Aba Fabio Santini Alan Scaffardi |
| Eight | Morgan | Fedez | Mika | Victoria Cabello |
| Eight | Groups Komminuet Spritz for Five The Wise | Boys Lorenzo Fragola Madh Leiner Riflessi Riccardo Schiara | 25+ Mario Gavino Garrucciu Emma Morton Diluvio | Girls Ilaria Rastrelli Vivian Grillo Camilla Andrea Magli |
| Nine | Skin | Fedez | Mika | Elio |
| Nine | Girls Enrica Tara Margherita Principi Eleonora Anania | Groups Urban Strangers Moseek Landlord | Boys Luca Valenti Leonardo Marius Dragusin Eva | 25+ Giosada Davide Sciortino Massimiliano D'Alessandro |
| Ten | Alvaro Soler | Fedez | Arisa | Manuel Agnelli |
| Ten | Groups Soul System Daiana Lou Les Enfants | Girls Gaia Gozzi Roshelle Caterina Cropelli | Boys Loomy Fem Diego Conti | 25+ Eva Pevarello Andrea Biagioni Silva Fortes |
| Eleven | Levante | Fedez | Mara Maionchi | Manuel Agnelli |
| Eleven | Girls Rita Bellanza Camille Cabaltera Virginia Perbellini | Boys Samuel Storm Gabriele Esposito Lorenzo Bonamano | 25+ Lorenzo Licitra Enrico Nigiotti Andrea Radice | Groups Måneskin Ros Sem & Stenn |
| Twelve | Lodovico Guenzi | Fedez | Mara Maionchi | Manuel Agnelli |
| Twelve | Groups BowLand Seveso Casino Palace Red Bricks Foundation | 25+ Naomi Rivieccio Renza Castelli Matteo Costanzo | Boys Anastasio Leo Gassman Emanuele Bertelli | Girls Luna Melis Martina Attili Sherol dos Santos |
| Thirteen | Samuel | Sfera Ebbasta | Mara Maionchi | Malika Ayane |
| Thirteen | Groups Booda Sierra Seawards | Girls Sofia Tornambene Giordana Petralia Mariam Rouass | 25+ Eugenio Campagna Nicola Cavallaro Marco Saltari | Boys Davide Rossi Lorenzo Rinaldi Enrico Di Lauro |
| Fourteen | Mika | Hell Raton | Emma Marrone | Manuel Agnelli |
| Fourteen | - | - | - | - |
First season (2008)
In the first edition held in the period 10 March 2008 to 27 May 2008, Morgan's contestants were labelled "pastel green contestants", Simona's contestants the "pink contestants" and Mara's the "pastel blue contestants"Second season (2008-2009)
The second season was held between 25 November 2008 and 19 April 2009. The three judges were the same as the first series line-up. Simona Ventura mentored the "16-24s", Morgan the "25 and Overs" and Mara Maionchi the Groups. The winner was Matteo Becucci from the 25 and over category.Third season (2009)
In the third edition from 16 June 2009 until 2 December 2009, the judge Simona Ventura was replaced by Claudia Mori. Morgan's contestants were dubbed the "blue contestants", Claudia Mori's contestants the "orange" and Mara Maionchi's category of the Vocal Groups, the "red contestants".The A&K, Mara's group, were formed by Andrea and Chiara. However, Chiara was later disqualified from the show because of a regulation prohibiting the sons/daughters of RAI employees from entering the show, in this case, Chiara's Mother. She was replaced by Daniele Vit.
Fourth season (2010)
From that year there are four categories with the respective judges:- Mara Maionchi
- Anna Tatangelo
- Elio
- Enrico Ruggeri
Fifth season (2011–2012)
Sixth season (2012)
The sixth season of X Factor started on 20 September 2012. It is broadcast live by Sky Uno HD, and a short version recorded broadcast on free digital TV Cielo.Seventh season (2013)
The seventh season of X Factor started on 26 September 2013. It is broadcast live by Sky Uno HD.Eight season (2014)
The eight season of X Factor started on 18 September 2014. It is broadcast live by Sky Uno HD.Ninth season (2015)
The ninth season of X Factor started on 10 September 2015. It is broadcast live by Sky Uno HD.Tenth season (2016)
The tenth season of X Factor started on 22 September 2016. It was broadcast live by Sky Uno HD, and a recorded version was broadcast on free digital channel TV8.Eleventh season (2017)
The eleventh season of X Factor started on 14 September 2017. It is broadcast live by Sky Uno HD, and a recorded version is broadcast on free digital channel TV8. The season finale, aired on 14 December 2017, marked the victory of Lorenzo Licitra and became the most viewed Italian X Factor live show ever.Twelfth season (2018)
The twelfth season of X Factor started on 6 September 2018. It was broadcast live by Sky Uno HD, and a recorded version was broadcast on free digital channel TV8. The final episode of the season, aired on both Sky Uno HD and TV8, was won by Anastasio. This marked Mara Maionchi's second victory in a row.This season also featured Asia Argento as a judge before she was fired after being accused of sexual misconduct by actor Jimmy Bennett.