The live shows began on 8 October. Each week, the contestants' performances took place on Saturday and the results were announced on Sunday. As with previous series, each live show had a different theme. The results show often featured a group performance by the remaining contestants and guest live performances. The first live results show included live performances from series 7 winner
Matt Cardle and
Cee Lo Green, On the third results show,
Bruno Mars,
Professor Green featuring
Emeli Sandé and
Kelly Clarkson performed. Series 7 contestant
Cher Lloyd and
The X Factor USA judge
Nicole Scherzinger performed on the fourth live result show. Series 5 runners up
JLS and
Florence and the Machine performed on the fifth live results show, while
Lady Gaga and series 7 contestants
One Direction performed on the sixth. The seventh live show featured performances from
Rihanna and series 7 runner-up
Rebecca Ferguson,. The semi-final live result show featured performances from
Justin Bieber and
The X Factor judge Rowland. The live final featured performances from
Coldplay,
JLS,
Leona Lewis,
Michael Bublé and
One Direction. For the live shows,
The X Factor received new graphics and theme music similar to those already introduced on
The X Factor USA. Voting by text message, which had been absent since 2007, was reintroduced for this series in addition to the premium rate telephone vote, but was not available during the final. During the fourth week of the live shows, it was announced that Rowland was unable to travel back from Los Angeles due to a throat infection. During the week, it was announced that Burke would replace her as a judge on the show. The name was subsequently changed to Little Mix. On 28 October 2011, Ashley Baptiste decided to leave The Risk. In an interview on the official website, he explained "I don't believe my future lies in a boyband and it's not fair on [the other members] Charlie, Derry and Andy to remain in the band when I am not truly committed to it for the long term. I believe The Risk can win
The X Factor and I'm backing them all the way. I count them as my friends so I know we'll stay in touch." He was replaced by Ashford Campbell, who was a member of
Nu Vibe, another manufactured boyband who had already previously been eliminated. On 8 November 2011, Frankie Cocozza was ejected from the competition, saying he "no longer [deserved his] place in the show", having broken competition rules. As a result, it was announced that the four contestants eliminated by their mentors in week 1; 2 Shoes, Amelia Lily, James Michael and Jonjo Kerr; would be given the chance to face a public vote, with the winner of the vote being reinstated in the competition. Amelia Lily won the public vote with 48% of the overall total and replaced Cocozza in the competition.
Results summary ;Colour key Act in Boys Act in Girls Act in Over 25s Act in Groups • There was no public vote in the first week and no final showdown. Each judge was required to eliminate one of their own acts. • Rowland was not present due to illness but voted via telephone link from Los Angeles. • Barlow was not required to vote as there was already a majority. However, he stated that he would have voted to eliminate Sophie Habibis in week 4, Johnny Robinson in week 5 and Janet Devlin in the quarter-final. • Following Frankie Cocozza's ejection from the competition, one of the four acts who were eliminated in the first week of the competition by the judges (2 Shoes, Amelia Lily, James Michael, or Jonjo Kerr) were given the chance to return to and replace Cocozza in the competition through a public vote. The winner of the public vote was Amelia Lily with 48.8%.
Live show details Week 1 (8/9 October) • Theme: Songs by British and American artists (billed as "Britain vs. America") • Musical guests:
Matt Cardle ("
Run for Your Life") and
Cee Lo Green ("
Satisfied/
Forget You") • Group performance: "
Hello" • Musical guests:
Kelly Clarkson ("
Mr. Know It All"),
Professor Green featuring
Emeli Sandé ("
Read All About It") and
Bruno Mars ("
Runaway Baby") • Best bits song: "
One Moment in Time" ;Judges' votes to eliminate • Best bits song: "
I Will Be" Rowland did not appear on the judging panel for week 4 due to illness, so
series 5 winner
Alexandra Burke took her place as an extra judge on the panel. However, Burke did not vote on the results show; instead, Rowland voted via telephone link from
Los Angeles. Rhythmix's new name 'Little Mix' took effect from Week 4. • Group performance: "
Price Tag" • Musical guests :
JLS (
"Take a Chance on Me") and
Florence and the Machine ("
Shake It Out") • Best bits songs: "
Safe" (The Risk) & "
Love Is a Losing Game" (Johnny Robinson) In a double elimination special, two acts were eliminated from the series fifth results show. The three acts with the fewest public votes were announced as the bottom three and then the act with the fewest votes was automatically eliminated. The remaining two acts then performed in the final showdown for the judges' votes. The Risk was eliminated as the act with the fewest public votes. ;Judges' votes to eliminate • Group performance: "
Walking on Sunshine" • Musical guests:
One Direction ("
Gotta Be You") and
Lady Gaga ("
Marry the Night") • Best bits song: "
Perfect" On 8 November 2011, Frankie Cocozza was ejected from the competition. • Group performance: "
When You're Gone" (with
Bryan Adams) • Musical guests:
Rebecca Ferguson ("
Nothing's Real but Love") and
Rihanna ("
We Found Love") • Best Bits song: "
Patience" ;Judges' votes to eliminate • Group performance: "
Wishing on a Star" (all finalists except Frankie Cocozza, along with
JLS and
One Direction) • Musical guests:
Olly Murs and
The Muppets ("
Dance with Me Tonight") and
Jessie J ("
Who You Are") • Group performance: "
Hold On" • Musical guests:
Justin Bieber ("
Mistletoe") and
Kelly Rowland ("
When Love Takes Over" / "
Down for Whatever" / "
Commander") After her elimination, Misha B reprised her week 6 final showdown performance of "
Who You Are" as her exit song.
Week 10: Final (10/11 December) The final was held at
Wembley Arena and lasted for over four hours, split over Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 December 2011.
10 December • Themes: No theme; mentor duets • Group performance: "
Greatest Day" • Musical guests:
JLS and
One Direction ("
She Makes Me Wanna" / "
What Makes You Beautiful"),
Michael Bublé ("
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)") and
Leona Lewis ("
Hurt") • Best bits song: "
Chances" If Amelia Lily had made the final two, her favourite performance would have been, "
The Show Must Go On" from week six, and would have sung "
All I Want For Christmas Is You" for her Christmas song, as well as performing "
Cannonball".
11 December • Themes: Favourite performance ("song of the series"); Christmas songs; winner's single • Group performance: "
We Found Love" / "
Party Rock Anthem" / "
On the Floor" / "
Moves Like Jagger" / "
The Edge of Glory" (all contestants except Frankie Cocozza who was replaced by Goldie Cheung and David Wilder) • Musical guests:
Westlife ("
What About Now") and
Coldplay ("
Charlie Brown" and "
Paradise") • Best bits songs: "
Rule the World" (Marcus Collins) & "
I’ll Stand by You" (Little Mix) ==Charity single==