In February 2016, reports claimed that Seven Network was mulling over whether or not to delay the series' planned season 8 until 2017.[3] It was later confirmed that The X Factor would return in 2016.[1]
Dannii Minogue reported that she would not be returning to the programme after three series on the judging panel.[1] On 12 June 2016, Iggy Azalea was announced as Chris Isaak's replacement, with Guy Sebastian. The following day, Adam Lambert was confirmed to be the third judge for season 8 replacing James Blunt.[4] On 11 October 2016, shortly before the three-seat challenge, former judge Mel B was announced as the "underdog judge" also to replace Minogue, after months of rumours, whereby three acts who failed to secure a seat in this challenge can be recruited by her for inclusion in the "underdogs" category.[5]
On 24 November 2015, Luke Jacobz announced on his Twitter account that he would not be returning as the host for the eighth season in 2016.[6] On 25 June 2016, Jason Dundas was announced as Jacobz's replacement.[citation needed]
Selection process
Open auditions in front of the show's producers took place in 17 cities and ran from 18 April to 21 May 2016.
Auditions
Open auditions
Open auditions began on 18 April in Geelong and concluded on 21 May 2016 in Melbourne.
Bootcamp was briefly shown during the last audition episode, where the judges found out which category they would mentor. Once the judges found out their categories, they had each of their acts sing acapella for their judge and once everyone sang, the category judge narrowed their category down to 12 acts who would move on to the Three Chair Challenge.
Three seat challenge
The three seat challenge round of the competition was held at the Sydney Olympic Park between 28 and 29 July 2016. This will be a replacement as the super home visits used in previous seasons. Three acts who were not successful were recruited by underdog judge Mel B.
Key:
– Act was immediately eliminated after performance without given a seat
– Act was given a seat but swapped out later in the competition and eventually eliminated
– Act was given a seat and made the top three of their own category
– Act did not make the top three of their own category but was later saved by Mel B
Contestants performances on the three-seat challenge
*AYA (originally named Chai) was previously known as Montage. Their name was changed a second time after the three-seat challenge.
Live shows
The live shows began airing on 23 October 2016. Initially, ten live shows were planned, but they were cut down to five, apparently due to scheduling conflicts. Guy Sebastian mentored the Over 22s, Iggy Azalea mentored the Groups and Adam Lambert mentored the 14-21s. Mel B was announced as the mentor of the Underdogs category, where she chose three acts who were eliminated in the three-seat challenge, join her category; the contestants of this category were not revealed until the first live show.[7] The live shows concluded on 21 November 2016, where this would be the final episode of The X Factor to be aired, as the programme was cancelled in January 2017 due to declining ratings.
Results summary
Colour key
Act in Team Mel B Act in Team Guy Act in Team Iggy Act in Team Adam
– Act in the bottom two and had to perform again in the final showdown
– Act was in the bottom three but received the fewest votes and was immediately eliminated
– Act received the fewest public votes and was immediately eliminated (no final showdown)
Sebastian: AYA – could not decide and sent the result to deadlock.
With the acts in the bottom two receiving two votes each, the result went to deadlock and reverted to the earlier public vote. AYA were eliminated as the act with the fewest public votes.
Sebastian: Beatz – backed his own act, Chynna Taylor.
Mel B: Chynna Taylor – backed her own act, Beatz.
Azalea: Chynna Taylor – wanted a group to stay in the competition.
Lambert: Beatz – could not decide and sent the result to deadlock.
With the acts in the bottom two receiving two votes each, the result went to deadlock and reverted to the earlier public vote. Chynna Taylor was eliminated as the act with the fewest public votes.
Ratings data is from OzTAM and represents the average viewership from the 5 largest Australian metropolitan centres (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide).
X-Factor Australia (Season 8) ratings, with overnight ratings and timeshift viewers.
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