The X Factor (British TV series) series 9

''The X Factor'' is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. The ninth series began airing on ITV on 18 August 2012 and ended on 9 December 2012. Dermot O'Leary returned as presenter of the main show on ITV, whilst Caroline Flack and Olly Murs returned to co-present ''The Xtra Factor'' on ITV2. Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow and Tulisa returned as judges. Nicole Scherzinger was confirmed as the fourth permanent judge after Geri Halliwell, Leona Lewis, Rita Ora, Mel B, Anastacia and Scherzinger herself stood in as guest judges for the vacant position left by Kelly Rowland. After the show of 8 December, two of Scherzinger's acts, James Arthur and Jahméne Douglas, became the top two, meaning that Scherzinger was guaranteed to win. Arthur was announced as the winner on 9 December (the first winner in the show's history to have previously been in the bottom two), and released a cover of Shontelle's "Impossible" as his winner's song. As of 2016, it is the most successful winner's single in the show's history.

Auditions for the series took place between 23 May and 25 June 2012, in Liverpool, London, Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle and Cardiff. Bootcamp took place in Liverpool for three days, between 19 and 22 July. Barlow mentored the over 28s, Scherzinger had the boys, Tulisa mentored the girls and Walsh had the groups. They selected their final three acts during judges' houses, which took place in Boughton House in Northamptonshire, Dubai, Saint Lucia and Las Vegas. The 12 finalists were joined by a 13th wildcard, voted for by the public after each judge picked one of their rejected to return. The live shows started on 6 October. The final was held at Manchester Central.

The trailer for the series, entitled "Whose Time Is Now?", premiered on 30 July, featuring former contestants Lewis, Alexandra Burke, JLS, Murs, One Direction and Little Mix talking about their time on ''The X Factor'' and how it had changed their lives. It was criticised by series 2 winner Shayne Ward because he was not included. The series was beset by several controversial issues throughout its run. In the auditions, these included Zoe Alexander, who swore at judges, accusing them of forcing her to sing a Pink song; Alison Brunton, whose audition was believed to have "caused unnecessary distress or anxiety" to her children; and Lorna Bliss, who gave Walsh a lap dance. The live shows were controversial for the eliminations of Carolynne Poole (after which Gary Barlow walked off the stage) and Ella Henderson, the fact that the voting lines opened before the contestants had performed, and also comments made by the judges—Tulisa using the term "MILF", Barlow insulting Tulisa's breath, and Scherzinger saying "effing". This series' launch was the lowest rated since 2006, and the show was often beaten in the ratings by other programmes such as ''Strictly Come Dancing'', ''Downton Abbey'' and ''I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!''. The final received the lowest ratings of an ''X Factor'' final since 2005, until the following year's series final attracted worse ratings.

Within four-and-a-half months of the final, six of the series' finalists—Arthur, Douglas, Henderson, Christopher Maloney, Union J and Lucy Spraggan—had been signed to record labels. Provided by Wikipedia