- Source: X Factor Malta
X Factor Malta is the Maltese version of the British television music competition The X Factor, created by Simon Cowell. The first season premiered on 7 October 2018 and has since been broadcast on Television Malta. The show was used to determine the artist that would represent Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019 and 2020. In July 2020, it was announced that the show would be replaced by Malta's Got Talent, but after a one-year hiatus, a third season began in October 2021. Season four started on 8 October 2023.
Season summary
To date, four seasons have been broadcast, as summarised below.
Contestant in "Ray Mercieca"
Contestant in "Alexandra Alden"
Contestant in "Howard Keith Debono"
Contestant in "Ira Losco"
Contestant in "Ivan Grech"
Contestant in "Philippa Naudi"
Contestant in "Gianluca Bezzina"
Contestant in "Amber Bondin"
Judges' categories and their contestants
In each season, each judge is allocated a category to mentor and chooses three acts to progress to the live finals. This table shows, for each series, which category each judge was allocated and which acts he or she put through to the live finals.
Key:
– Winning judge/category. Winners are in bold, eliminated contestants in small font.
Presenter and judges
On 2 July 2018, it was announced that Ben Camille was selected to host the show.
The full judges' panel was revealed on 31 July 2018, and was composed of music producer Howard Keith Debono, The Rifffs' frontman Ray Mercieca, Maltese singer and songwriter Alexandra Alden, and singer/star Ira Losco.
Confirmed X factor judge lovinmalta.com Retrieved 9 October 2019
Season 1
= Pre-auditions
=The first appeal for applicants was made on 26 June 2018, with the launch of the online submission form. Auditioning artists were also able to send a video audition via the WhatsApp messaging platform. In addition, a number of pop-up booths were set up around Malta in early July to encourage people to enter.
Producers auditions were held from 13 to 15 July at Fort St Elmo. There the show's producers assessed the auditioning acts and determined who would progress to the judges auditions.
= Judges' auditions
=The auditionees chosen by the producers were invited back to the last set of auditions that took place in front of the judges. These auditions were filmed at Fort St Angelo from 1 to 8 August and broadcast from 7 October, as well as short daily extra auditions on the X Factor Malta YouTube channel and on the Facebook page of Vodafone Malta.
The 120 successful contestants then progressed to the bootcamp round.
= Bootcamp
=The bootcamp round was filmed at the Hilton Malta Conference Centre from 9 to 12 September and broadcast on 11 and 18 November.
Contestants were given three performance challenges. On the first day, the 120 contestants were split into the four category groups - Boys, Girls, Overs and Groups. Acts in each category were given one song to sing a cappella: "A Million Reasons" (Girls), "See You Again" (Boys), "Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me" (Overs) "My Girl" (Groups). After the performances, the judges sent home 30 acts.
For the second challenge, the remaining acts each selected a song from the Wall of Songs, which they had to perform with three others who had selected the same song. Contestants were either put through to the next stage, or went to the Waiting Room, where they later had the possibility of being called on to be part of a newly formed group.
In the final challenge, the remaining acts - including newly formed groups - performed a song of their own choice. The jury then selected 12 participants from each category to go through to the Six Chair Challenge.
= Six Chair Challenge
=The Six Chair Challenge was filmed at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Attard on 11 and 12 October 2018.
The 24 successful acts were:
Boys: Mark Anthony Bartolo, Norbert Bondin, Aidan Cassar, Luke Chappell, Owen Leuellen, Claudio Zammit
Girls: Kelsey Bellante, Karin Duff, Nicole Frendo, Danica Muscat, Michela Pace, Jade Vella
Overs: Anna Azzopardi, Franklin Calleja, Anna Faniello, Ben Purplle, Vanessa Lee Sultana, Petra Zammit
Groups: 4th Line, Horizon, Kayati, Prism, Systm12, Xtreme
= Judges' Houses
=The Judges' Houses episodes were broadcast on 23 and 30 December 2018.
= Contestants
=Key:
– Winner
– Runner-up
– Third Place
= Live shows
=The live shows began on Sunday, 6 January 2019. They were filmed at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Attard, Malta. Dance groups contracted for all live shows were The Unit Collective (Deedee Clark, Kimberly Lowell, Nicole Schembri), Southville Dancers (Christian Scerri), Kinetic Dance Academy (Clayton Mifsud, Daphne Gatt) and Annalise Dance Studio (Annalise Ellul).
= Results summary
=Colour key
– Contestant in the bottom three and had to perform in the Sing-Off
– Contestant was in the bottom three but received the fewest votes and was immediately eliminated
– Contestant received the fewest public votes and was immediately eliminated (no final showdown)
= Live show details
=Week 1 (6 Jan)
Theme: This is Me
Judges' vote to eliminate
Mercieca: Xtreme
Alden: Franklin Calleja
Losco: Franklin Calleja
Debono: Franklin Calleja
Week 2 (13 Jan)
Theme: Throwbacks
Judges' vote to eliminate
Mercieca: 4th Line
Alden: Ben Purplle
Losco: 4th Line
Debono: Ben Purplle
With the acts in the sing-off receiving two votes each, the result went to deadlock and reverted to the earlier public vote. 4th Line was eliminated as the act with the fewest public votes.
Week 3: Semi-Final (20 Jan)
Theme: Movie Spectacular, Jukebox
Judges' vote to eliminate
Mercieca: Luke Chappell
Alden: Owen Leuellen
Debono: Owen Leuellen
Losco: Luke Chappell
With the acts in the sing-off receiving two votes each, the result went to deadlock and reverted to the earlier public vote. Luke Chappell was eliminated as the act with the fewest public votes.
In this semi-final, the eight qualified finalists performed at least once. The two acts with the fewest public votes after the first round left the competition, with Kelsey Bellante, gaining the fewest votes overall, and Ben Purplle gaining the second fewest votes. The top six performed again, with the top three acts automatically progressing to the final. The remaining three faced elimination. Of these three, Norbert Bondin received the fewest votes and was thus immediately eliminated. The remaining two, Owen Leuellen and Luke Chappell, faced the tiebreaker, which was to be decided by the judges. However, as the tie was not resolved by the end of the judges' vote, the deadlock - once again decided by the public vote - had to be used. As Owen Leuellen received more votes then Luke Chappell, the former progressed to the final.
Week 4: Final (26 Jan)
= Aired Shows
=Season 2
The second season premiered on 6 October 2019. As with the inaugural season, the format continued to serve as the Maltese national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. The winner of the second season of X Factor Malta would have represented the island nation at the 2020 contest in Rotterdam, Netherlands, but the contest was cancelled due to COVID-19.
= Six Chair Challenge
=The 24 successful acts were:
Boys: Matt Blxck, Kyle Cutajar, Dav. Jr, Giovanni, Karl Schembri, Jurgen Volkov
Girls: Jasmine Abela, Gail Attard, Marija Bellia, Destiny Chukunyere, Karin Duff, Justine Shorfid
Overs: Ed Abdilla, Celine Agius, Paul Anthony, Chantal Catania, Kersten Graham, Jozi
Groups: Bloodline, Chord, F.A.I.T.H, Reign, Sweet Chaos, Yazmin and James
= Judges' Houses
=The Judges' Houses episodes were broadcast on 22 and 29 December 2019.
= Contestants
=Key:
– Winner
– Runner-up
– Third Place
= Live shows
=The live shows began on Sunday, 12 January 2020. They were filmed at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Attard, Malta. Dance groups contracted for all live shows were The Unit Collective (Deedee Clark, Kimberly Lowell, Nicole Schembri), Southville Dancers (Christian Scerri), Kinetic Dance Academy (Clayton Mifsud, Daphne Gatt) and Annalise Dance Studio (Annalise Ellul).
= Results summary
=Colour key
– Contestant in the bottom three and had to perform in the Sing-Off
– Contestant was in the bottom three but received the fewest votes and was immediately eliminated
– Contestant received the fewest votes and was immediately eliminated
= Live show details
=Week 1 (12 Jan)
Theme: Born This Way
Judges' vote to eliminate
Alden: Paul Anthony
Debono: Paul Anthony
Mercieca: Paul Anthony
Losco: Paul Anthony
Week 2 (19 Jan)
Theme: Guilty Pleasures
Judges' vote to eliminate
Mercieca: Yazmin & James
Debono: Dav. Jr
Alden: Yazmin & James
Losco: Dav. Jr
With the acts in the sing-off receiving two votes each, the result went to deadlock and reverted to the earlier public vote. Dav. Jr was eliminated as the act with the fewest public votes
Week 3 (26 Jan)
Theme: Movie Spectacular
Judges' vote to eliminate
Debono: Celine Agius
Alden: Bloodline
Losco: Celine Agius
Mercieca: Celine Agius
Week 4 Semi-final (2 Feb)
Theme: Big Band, Jukebox
Week 5: Final (8 Feb)
Season 3
The third season premiered on 3 October 2021. This time around, the winner would not receive the rights to represent Malta at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in Italy.
= Six Chair Challenge
=The 24 successful acts were:
Boys: Aidan Drakard, Ryan Hili, Kevin Paul, Nathan Psaila, Rheez, Isaac Tom
Girls: Timea Farr, Lisa Gauci, Mariah Gerada, Kristy Spiteri, Hannah Theuma, Shauna Vassallo
Overs: Janice Azzopardi, Cheryl Balzan, Dean Barton, Audrienne Fenech, Jastene Pacis, Jimmy Tyrrell
Groups: Beyond, Ceci & Kriss, Daryl & Dale, Jasmine, Anna & Jana, Soul Tide, Wish Me Lack
= Judges' Houses
=The Judges' Houses episodes were broadcast on 19 December 2021 and 2 January 2022.
= Finalists
=Key:
– Winner
– Runner-up
– Third Place
= Live shows
=The live shows began on Sunday, 16 January 2022. They were filmed at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Attard, Malta. Dance groups contracted for all live shows were The Unit Collective (Deedee Clark, Kimberly Lowell, Nicole Schembri), Southville Dancers (Christian Scerri), Kinetic Dance Academy (Clayton Mifsud, Daphne Gatt) and Annalise Dance Studio (Annalise Ellul).
= Results summary
=Colour key
– Contestant in the bottom three and had to perform in the Sing-Off
– Contestant was in the bottom three but received the fewest votes and was immediately eliminated
– Contestant received the fewest votes and was immediately eliminated
= Live show details
=Week 1 (16 Jan)
Theme: It's My Life
Group performance: "It's My Life"
Judges' vote to eliminate
Losco: Beyond
Naudi: Jimmy Tyrrell
Debono: Beyond
Grech: Jimmy Tyrrell
With the acts in the sing-off receiving two votes each, the result went to deadlock and reverted to the earlier public vote. Jimmy Tyrrell was eliminated as the act with the fewest public votes.
Week 2 (23 Jan)
Theme: Retro
Judges' vote to eliminate
Naudi: Timea Farr
Grech: Soul Tide
Losco: Soul Tide
Debono: Soul Tide
Week 3 (30 Jan)
Theme: Soundtracks
Judges' vote to eliminate
Debono: Timea Farr
Grech: Kevin Paul
Naudi: Kevin Paul
Losco: Kevin Paul
Week 4 (6 Feb)
Theme: Greatest hits
Week 5: Final (12 Feb)
Season 4
The fourth season premiered on 8 October 2023.
= Six Chair Challenge
=The 24 successful acts were:
Boys: Mattia Adduocchio, Francesco Bonello, Kodin Camilleri, Aiden Cohen, Christian Grasso, Isaac Tom
Girls: Marija Bellia, Mariah Fenech, Amelia Kalabic, Shanice Micallef, Kristy Spiteri, Eliza Stellini
Overs: Richard Aquilina, Shenise Ghirxi, Sean Kamati, Cora Elizabeth Lewis, Rose Marielle Mamaclay, Joe Romano
Groups: Freezap, Kelsie & Martina, Lapes & Nadine, Tonation, XO, Zoe & Kuba
= Judges' Houses
=The Judges' Houses episodes were broadcast on 24 and 31 December 2023.
= Finalists
=Key:
– Winner
– Runner-Up
– Third Place
= Live shows
=The live shows began on Sunday, 14 January 2024. They were filmed at the Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Attard, Malta.
= Results summary
=Colour key
– Contestant in the bottom three and had to perform in the Sing-Off
– Contestant was in the bottom three but received the fewest votes and was immediately eliminated
– Contestant received the fewest votes and was immediately eliminated
= Live show details
=Week 1 (14 Jan)
Group performance: "Praising You"
Theme: This is Me
Judges' vote to eliminate
Debono: Kristy Spiteri
Bezzina: Sean Kamati
Losco: Kristy Spiteri
Bondin: Kristy Spiteri
Week 2 (21 Jan)
Theme: Number 1 Hits
Judges' vote to eliminate
Bondin: Amelia Kalabic
Bezzina: Kodin Camilleri
Losco: Kodin Camilleri
Debono: Kodin Camilleri
Week 3 (28 Jan)
Theme: Throwbacks
Judges' vote to eliminate
Losco: Amelia Kalabic
Bezzina: XO
Debono: XO
Bondin: XO
Week 4 (Semi-Finals) (4 Feb)
Theme: Movies
Week 5: Final (11 Feb)
References
External links
Official website
Watch On Demand
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Michela Pace
- Stagecoach Theatre Arts
- Saara Aalto
- Sofia Nizharadze
- Lucie Jones
- Indonesia
- Mélovin
- Kristian Kostov
- Rachel Shelley
- Analisis sitiran
- X Factor Malta
- The X Factor
- The X Factor (British TV series)
- Destiny (singer)
- Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019
- Ira Losco
- Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest
- Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020
- He Lives in You
- Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre
