X Factor is a Romanian television music competition that aims to find a new music talent to become a star. The first season began airing on September 17, 2011, on Antena 1 and ended on January 1, 2012. The winner received a price of €200,000. Based on the UK format, the competition consists of auditions in front of specialized judges that afterwards become mentors. Auditions for the show began in May, 2011 and concluded in June, 2011. The show is hosted by TV presenters Răzvan Simion and Dani Oțil, while the judging panel consists of recording artist and producer Adrian Sînă of the group Akcent, singer-songwriter Paula Seling and Radio DJ Mihai Morar.

Selection process

Auditions

Auditions for producers began in Cluj-Napoca, România, on May 14, 2011. They then took place in Constanța, on May 21 in Timișoara on May 24, 2011, on June 4 in Iași and concluded on June 11, 2011 in Bucharest.

Bootcamp

After the bootcamp period, there were twenty-four acts left. 16-24s: Sanziana Nicolae, Andrei Leonte, Cristina Dobrescu, Bogdan Medvedi, Bianca Purcarea, Tania Kramar, Irina Florea, Nae Ovidiu Nicolae

Judges houses

During Judges houses period, they were sectioned into three different categories. Paula Seling, helped by Alexander Rybak, Adrian Sînă, helped by Alexandra Ungureanu and Mihai Morar, helped by Laurențiu Duță

Contestants

The 12 contestants were confirmed as follows;

Key:

  – Winner

  – Runner up

  – Third Place

Live shows

Results summary

Color key

Live show details

Week 1 (October 29/30)

• Theme(s): Number-one singles
• Group Performance: Oficial îmi merge bine
• Musical guest: Oceana — "Cry,Cry"

Week 2 (November 5/6)

• Theme(s): Romanian songs
• Group Performance: Billionaire
• Musical guest: Voltaj — "20" & "Dă vina pe Voltaj"

Week 3 (November 12/13)

• Theme(s): Songs from movies
• Group Performance: You're the One That I Want
• Musical guest: Touch & Go — "Would You...?"

Week 4 (November 19/20)

• Theme(s): Love songs
• Group Performance: Don't Stop Believin'
• Musical guest: Holograf — "Să nu-mi iei niciodată dragostea"

Week 5 (November 26/27)

• Theme(s): Mentors' favorite songs
• Group performance: Beat It
• Musical guest: East 17 — "Thunder"

Week 6 (December 3/4)

• Theme: Live Band
• Group Performance: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
• Musical guest: Direcția 5 — "Îți mulțumesc" & "Ai un loc"

Week 7 (December 10/11)

• Theme: Audience' choice and Mentors' choice
• Group performance: I Gotta Feeling
• Musical guest: Alexander Rybak — "Europe Skies" and "Fairytale"

• As a worldwide X Factor premiere, Diana Hetea wasn't able to perform a "Save Me Song" because she suffered of Laryngitis that night. So as a convention, the producers decided to put on a footage with all of her performances during the X Factor galas.

Week 8: (December 17/18)

• Theme(s): Musical Heroes / Mentor's Choice
• Group Performance: Another Brick in the Wall
• Musical guest: In-Grid - "Tu es foutu" & "Vive Le Swing"

Week 9: (December 24/25)

• Theme(s): Christmas Songs, Mentors' choice
• Group Performance:
• 24 December : Contestants from auditions — "Deschide ușa, creștine"
• 25 December : X Factor Finalists — "La casa di peste drum"
• Musical guest: Paula Seling — "Colindăm (Iarna)", "Timpul" & "Noapte caldă"

Week 10: (January 1)

• Theme(s): Audition Songs, Celebrity Duets, Winner's Single
• Group Performance: We Will Rock You
• Musical guests: Vama ("Copilul care aleargă către mare"), Mandinga ("Danza Kuduro", "Zaleilah"), ROA ("Ne place", "Sonată în la minor"), Vunk ("Artificii pe tavan"), Laurențiu Duță feat. X Factor Finalists ("Amintirile")

Ratings