X Factor (Danish TV series)
X Factor is the Danish version of The X Factor, a show originating in the United Kingdom and is created by talent show judge and record and TV producer Simon Cowell. There has been thirteen winners to date: Martin Hoberg Hedegaard, Linda Andrews, Thomas Ring Petersen, Sarah Skaalum Jørgensen, Ida Østergaard Madsen, Chresten Falck Damborg, Anthony Jasmin, Emilie Esther, Embrace, Morten Nørgaard, Place on Earth, Kristian Kjærlund and Alma Agger.
The original judging panel consisted of Thomas Blachman, Lina Rafn and Remee. Soulshock and Pernille Rosendahl took the places of Blachman and Rafn in season 3. Blachman returned to the panel in season 4 and Cutfather joined, replacing Soulshock and Remee. Ida Corr and Anne Linnet joined the panel in season 6 as replacements for Rosendahl and Cutfather. Rafn will not return for season 9. The original host was Lise Rønne. Signe Muusmann took Rønne's place in season 3, though Muusmann did not return for season 4 and was replaced by Rønne. Signe Molde replaced Rønne in season 6. From seasons 7 to 8, the show has been hosted by Eva Harlou. Since Season 9, the show was hosted by Sofie Linde Lauridsen who replaced Harlou.
Series overview
To date, thirteen series have been broadcast, as summarised below.Contestant in "15–24s", "15–23s" or "15–22s" category
Contestant in "Over 25s", "Over 24s" or "Over 23s" category
Contestant in "Groups" category
| Season | Start | Finish | Winner | Third place | Winning mentor | Judges | ||
| 4 January 2008 | 28 March 2008 | Remee | Lise Rønne | Thomas Blachman Lina Rafn Remee | ||||
| 2 January 2009 | 27 March 2009 | Linda Andrews | Alien Beat Club | Mohamed Ali | Lina Rafn | Lise Rønne | Thomas Blachman Lina Rafn Remee | |
| 1 January 2010 | 27 March 2010 | Thomas Ring Petersen | Tine Midtgaard Madsen | Jesper Nohrstedt Boesgaard | Remee Soulshock | |||
| 1 January 2011 | 25 March 2011 | Annelouise Sørensen | Babou | Cutfather | Lise Rønne | Thomas Blachman Pernille Rosendahl Cutfather | ||
| 1 January 2012 | 23 March 2012 | Sveinur | Lise Rønne | Thomas Blachman Pernille Rosendahl Cutfather | ||||
| 28 December 2012 | 22 March 2013 | Karoline | Wasteland | Ida Corr | Signe Molde | Thomas Blachman Ida Corr Anne Linnet | ||
| 3 January 2014 | 28 March 2014 | Anthony Jasmin | Lucy Mardou | Henriette Haubjerg | Thomas Blachman | Eva Harlou | Thomas Blachman Lina Rafn Remee | |
| 2 January 2015 | 27 March 2015 | Emilie Esther | Jógvan | Ivarsson, Bang & Neumann | Remee | Eva Harlou | Thomas Blachman Lina Rafn Remee | |
| 8 January 2016 | 1 April 2016 | Embrace | Reem Hamze | Alex Benson | Remee | Sofie Linde | Thomas Blachman Remee Mette Lindberg | |
| 30 December 2016 | 31 March 2017 | Morten Nørgaard | Chili Pedersen | Mia Sørensen | Remee | Sofie Linde | Thomas Blachman Remee Mette Lindberg | |
| 1 January 2018 | 6 April 2018 | Place on Earth | Jamie Talbot | Rasmus Therkildsen | Thomas Blachman | Sofie Linde | Thomas Blachman Remee Sanne Salomonsen | |
| 4 January 2019 | 12 April 2019 | Kristian Kjærlund | Benjamin Rosenbohm | Live Vogel | Thomas Blachman | Sofie Linde | Thomas Blachman Ankerstjerne Oh Land | |
| 1 January 2020 | 23 May 2020 | Alma Agger | Mathilde Caffey | Emil Wismann | Thomas Blachman | Sofie Linde | Thomas Blachman Ankerstjerne Oh Land | |
| 2021 | Sofie Linde |
Judges
The judges in seasons 1 and 2 were Thomas Blachman, Lina Rafn and Remee.Remee continued as a judge in season 3, while Blachman and Rafn resigned and were replaced by Soulshock and Pernille Rosendahl.
Rosendahl continued as a judge in seasons 4 and 5, while Soulshock and Remee were replaced with Blachman, who returned after one season away, and Cutfather.
Blachman continued as a judge in season 6, while Rosendahl and Cutfather decided to leave and were replaced by Ida Corr and Anne Linnet.
Seasons 7 and 8 returned to the original judging panel consisting of Blachman, Rafn and Remee following the departures of Corr and Linnet.
Season 9 and 10 Blachman and Remee returned as judges joined by a newcomer Mette Lindberg.
Season 11 Sanne Salomonsen will replace Mette Lindberg as judge.
Season 12 Oh Land and Ankerstjerne replaced Sanne Salomonsen and Remee as judges.
Hosts
Judges' categories and their finalists
Key:| Season | Thomas Blachman | Lina Rafn | Remee |
| One | Over 25s Heidi Svelmøe Herløw Lisa Maria Birkekvist Frederik Konradsen | Groups VocaLoca RaiDen Søren & Anne | 15-24s Martin Hoberg Hedegaard Laura Arensbak Kjærgaard Basim Moujahid |
| Two | 15-24s Mohamed Ali Sidsel Lieknins Vestertjele Lucas Francis Claver | Over 25s Linda Andrews Seest Christensen Claus Lillelund | Groups Alien Beat Club Asian Sensation Tårnhøj |
| Season | Soulshock | Pernille Rosendahl | Remee |
| Three | Groups The Fireflies 8210 In-Joy | Over 25s Thomas Ring Petersen Daniel Vengsgaard Peter Søborg | 15-24s Tine Midtgaard Madsen Jesper Boesgaard Anna Nygaard |
| Season | Thomas Blachman | Pernille Rosendahl | Cutfather |
| Four | Over 25s Annelouise Sørensen Patricia Ercan | Groups Rikke & Trine JR Deevibez | 15-24s Sarah Skaalum Jørgensen Babou Rasmus |
| Five | Groups Nicoline Simone & Jean Michel Tandberg & Østenby Phuong & Rasmus | 15-24s Ida Østergaard Madsen Line Dissing Karred Larsen Morten Benjamin | Over 25s Sveinur Mulila Katrine |
| Season | Thomas Blachman | Ida Corr | Anne Linnet |
| Six | 15-23s Karoline Amanda Zaina | Over 24s Chresten Falck Damborg Stephanie Jonas | Groups Wasteland Anna & Lusanda Lotus |
| Season | Thomas Blachman | Lina Rafn | Remee |
| Seven | Groups Anthony Jasmin ManBand lickety-split | 14-22s Henriette Haubjerg Fie Winther Mathias Chrøis | Over 23s Lucy Mardou Pernille Nordtorp Steffen Gilmartin |
| Eight | Groups Ivarsson, Bang & Neumann Citybois Finn & Rie | Over 23s Jógvan Sophia Nanni | 15-22s Emilie Esther Baraa Qadoura Tannaz Hakami |
| Season | Thomas Blachman | Mette Lindberg | Remee |
| Nine | Over 23s Andrew Murray Sarah Glerup Jacob Bering | 15-22s Reem Hamze Alex Benson Mads Christian | Groups Embrace Clifforth & Hein The Competition |
| Ten | 15-22s Chili Pedersen Mia Sørensen Martin Prytz | Groups VKation Ladies with Attitude Fyhnen Sisters | Over 23s Morten Nørgaard Samanta Gomez Mike Beck |
| Season | Thomas Blachman | Sanne Salomonsen | Remee |
| Eleven | Groups Place on Earth Sol & Christian Anne Mette & Tomas | 15-22s Sigmund Trondheim Vita Jensen Oliver Bendixen | Over 23s Jamie Talbot Rasmus Therkildsen Anja Nynne |
| Season | Thomas Blachman | Oh Land | Ankerstjerne |
| Twelve | Over 23s Kristian Kjærlund Gina Michaells Andrea Brøndsted | Groups/Bands Echo Maria & Bea Dr. Rolf & Kanylerne | 15-22s Benjamin Rosenbohm Live Vogel Patrick Smith |
| Thirteen | 15-22s Alma Agger Mathilde Caffey Emil Wismann | Over 23s Ilona Artene Kaspar "Kali" Andersen Nicklas Mietke | Groups/Bands Smokey Eyes Magnus & Aksel Sway |
Season 1 (2008)
The judges were Remee, Lina Rafn and Thomas Blachman. Remee had the Under 25s, Rafn was given the Groups and Blachman was in charge of the Over 25s. The winner was Martin Hoberg Hedegaard, mentored by Remee.Season 2 (2009)
, Lina Rafn and Thomas Blachman returned as judges. Remee was given the Groups, Rafn was given the Over 25s and Blachman was in charge of the Under 25s. The winner was Linda Andrews, mentored by Rafn.Season 3 (2010)
returned as a judge, while Thomas Blachman and Lina Rafn were replaced by Soulshock and Pernille Rosendahl. Soulshock was given the Groups, Rosendahl was given the Over 25s and Remee was in charge of the Under 25s. The winner was Thomas Ring Petersen, mentored by Rosendahl. British singer and X Factor UK judge Cheryl Cole performed her number one single "Fight for This Love".Season 4 (2011)
continued as a judge, while original judge Thomas Blachman and new judge Cutfather replaced Soulshock and Remee on the judging panel. Cutfather was given the Under 25s, Rosendahl was given the Groups and Blachman was given the Over 25s. The winner was Sarah, mentored by Cutfather.Season 5 (2012)
, Pernille Rosendahl and Cutfather returned for their respective fourth, third and second seasons. Cutfather was given the Over 25s, Rosendahl was given the Under 25s and Blachman was in charge of the Groups. The winner was Ida Østergaard Madsen, mentored by Rosendahl.For the first time, a judge made an unforced decision to eliminate their own act.
Season 6 (2013)
returned to the judging panel, while Pernille Rosendahl and Cutfather were replaced by new judges Ida Corr and Anne Linnet. Linnet was given the Groups, Corr was given the Over 24s and Blachman was in charge of the Under 24s. The winner was Chresten Falck Damborg, mentored by Corr.Season 7 (2014)
The seventh season returned to the original judging panel consisting of Thomas Blachman, Lina Rafn and Remee following the departures of Ida Corr and Anne Linnet. Remee had the Over 23s, Rafn had the Under 23s and Blachman was in charge of the Groups. The winners were Anthony Jasmin, mentored by Blachman.Season 8 (2015)
, Remee and Lina Rafn returned to the judging panel for their respective seventh, fifth and fourth seasons. Remee was given the 15-22s, Rafn was given the Over 23s and Blachman was given the Groups. Superbootcamp was replaced by 5 Chair Challenge. The winner was Emilie Esther, mentored by Remee.Season 9 (2016)
and Remee will return as judges for season 9 along with a new judge Mette Lindberg who will replace Lina Rafn. Rafn said in the final of season 8 that she did not know if she would continue as a judge. Eva Harlou announced on 26 June 2015 that she will not return to host. Sofie Linde Lauridsen will be the new host. Rafn announced on 15 July 2015 that she would not be returning as a judge. The winners were Embrace mentored by Remee.Season 10 (2017)
, Mette Lindberg and Remee Will all return for Season 10 and Sofie Linde will also return as hostOn 31 March 2016 it was announced that X Factor will return for season 10 in 2017. It will begin on 30 December 2016 the winner was Morten Nørgaard mentored by Remee.
Season 11 (2018)
On 31 March 2017, it was announced by DR that X Factor will return for season 11 in 2018. Sofie Linde Lauridsen will return to host the show for the 3rd time Thomas Blachman and Remee also returned and is joined by a new judge Sanne Salomonsen who will replace Mette Lindberg. The Winner was Place on Earth mentored by Thomas BlachmanSeason 12 (2019)
Sofie Linde Lauridsen will return to host the show for the 4th time Thomas Blachman returned and is joined by a new judges Oh Land and Ankerstjerne who will replace Remee and Sanne Salomonsen. The Winner was Kristian Kjærlund mentored by Thomas BlachmanSeason 13 (2020)
, Oh Land and Ankerstjerne Will all return as judges for Season 13 and Sofie Linde Ingversen also return as host for the 5th time. The Winner was Alma Agger mentored by Thomas BlachmanControversy
The Danish X Factor has been criticised by music expert and consultant for The Danish Musicians' Association Mikael Højris, who claims that the contracts for participation in the show are unfair on participants and almost amount to serfdom to DR1 stating that clauses in the contracts forbid the participants - whether they pass the first round or not - from performing or participating in any other musical event for three months. He also criticises that participants are obliged to travel at their own expense.Bente Boserup, leader of BørneTelefonen, criticized the Danish X Factor for exposing children under 18 to high pressure and stress, after contestants Baraa Qadoura and Tannaz Hakami broke down in tears during the fourth live show of season 8. This was supported by psychologist John Halse, as well as contestant Finn Irs, who protested by not showing up to the all-stars song during the final live show. Irs stated that the producers were more interested in their contestants showing their emotions, rather than making a musical show. Jan Lagermand Lundme, the contributing editor on DR1, stated that all contestants were checked by a psychologist to see if they were fit to handle the pressure.
Despite this, the series has remained quite popular within the Danish public.