The X Factor - About the show

The fourth series of The X Factor has an all-new rule book. To understand how the show will work, just read on.

1. Watch the show. This one’s easy. Just check your local press for details of when it’ll be broadcast at primetime on Saturday evening.
2. There are four judges this year. That’s Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh, Sharon Osbourne and Dannii Minogue. Music moguls, one an’ all.
3. They’ve let the kids in. This year the age limit has been lowered to fourteen years old. Hoodies under discussion. Bless!
4. Each contestant needs three yes’s to pass the audition. That’s not two yes’s and a ‘I think you’d be good in a boyband’ from Louis – it’s three yes’s, every time.
5. At bootcamp the judges will remain together – they love it really – to choose six contestants from each of four categories i.e. 24 in all.
6. And then it’s onto Judge’s houses… Six acts will go in to each house, but only three will return…
7. The live show stage of the contest begins in October.
8. The winner will release a single which will have a shot at Christmas number one. Oh yes and a record deal worth £1million.