The X Factor (Australia season 1)

The X Factor is an Australian television music competition to find new singing talent. The 2005 season premiered on 6 February and ended on 15 May 2005. The show was cancelled after the 2005 season due to poor ratings, but was revived in 2010 after Seven Network acquired the rights through meetings with show creator Simon Cowell.^[1] in 2010.

Selection process

Auditions

Masterclass

• Under 25 – Jack Byrnes, Gemma Purdy, Jacob Butler, Victoria McGee, Vincent Harder
• 25 and Overs – Roslyn Howell, Cavan Te Ratana, Russell Gooley, Reegan Jolley, Jennifer Anderson
• Groups – 2XL, Beyond Society's Kontrol, Kaya, The Brothership, The Phillipou Brothers, Random

Finalists and categories

Key:

     – Winner

     – Runner-up

     – Third Place

Contestants

The contestants were:

Solo 16–25 years old (mentored by Kate Ceberano)

• Jacob Butler: Jacob, 22 from Littlehampton, South Australia, was dubbed the "Rock kid" of The X Factor. He left voluntarily after both him and fellow 16-24 contestant Vincent Harder were in the bottom two. Jacob later became a contestant on Australian Idol (season 5) making it to the Top 12 and eventually placed eighth.
• Vincent Harder: Vincent, 22 from Bondi, New South Wales, came third in The X Factor.
• Gemma Purdy: Gemma, 16, from Nunawading, Victoria, was the third person to be eliminated from the finals series. She wowed audiences with her Jazz based performances. Her final performance was a wobbly rendition of Christina Aguilera's "The Voice Within".

Solo, Over 25 (mentored by John Reid)

• Russell Gooley: Russell, 27 from Narrogin, Western Australia was the runner up in the series.
• Roslynn Mahe: Roslynn, 30 from Granville, New South Wales was the fifth to be eliminated.
• Janie Shrapnel: Janie, 47 from Samford, Queensland was the second contestant eliminated.

Groups (mentored by Mark Holden)

• The Brothership: The Brothership, consisted of the three Philippou brothers from South Australia, George, 33, Adam, 30 and Michael, 29. They went through many different names during The X Factor, including 49 Sheriff, Phillipo and The Phillipo Brothers, until they settled on The Brothership. They were the first to leave during the live shows, after a performance of "Somebody Told Me" by The Killers. The three brothers had previously recorded under the name of Universal.
• Kaya: Kaya, formerly Kaya in August, consisted of Alexandra Kaye, 29 from Bondi Junction, Juleiaah Boehm, 23 from Camperdown, Sally Stevens, 25 from Bondi and Emma Deans, 22 from Balmain. During the competition they were mentored by judge Mark Holden. The group made it to the final four musical acts before being eliminated. Kaya were the highest placing female act in the series.
• Random: Random were an R&B vocal group from Queensland made up of Xylocaine "XY" Latu, (born 13 January 1979 in Tonga) from Logan Central, Andy-Iese "Jesse" Tolo-Paepae, (born 19 January 1984 in Australia) from Kingston, Wayne Tauvao, (born 12 December 1985 in New Zealand) from Kippa-Ring, Tasesa Junior "TJ" Tauvao, (born 31 May 1988 in New Zealand) from Kippa-Ring and Donald Tauvao, (born 12 October 1988 in Western Samoa) from Redcliffe. They won The X Factor releasing their own album Random in 2005 and had minor hits with singles "Put Your Hands Up" and "Are You Ready" the same year.

Results table

Contestants' colour key: