The live shows began on 8 October 2016, with the performance shows taking place on Saturday night and the results show airing on Sunday night. On 1 October, it was revealed that all the groups would undergo name changes. The new names were revealed as Bratavio (Bradley & Ottavio), Brooks Way (The Brooks) and 5 After Midnight (5AM). The live shows were all filmed at
Fountain Studios in London, apart from the live final and final results show, which were filmed at
Wembley Arena. This was the last series to be filmed at Fountain Studios, and the semi-final results show and the following episode of
The Xtra Factor were the last programmes to be recorded in the studios before its demolition. New for this series, the first five results shows revealed the acts in the bottom three of the votes, and there was then a second round of 'flash votes' which lasted approximately four minutes, with voting only available via the official
The X Factor mobile app. The act who topped this vote avoided the sing-off. Also new, the theme for each week, excluding week 1, is randomly selected via a "jukebox wheel" at the end of the previous week's show, which is spun by O'Leary (apart from week 6, when it was spun by
Ant & Dec, during a live link-up from Australia). Themes include "Disco", "Movies", "Fright Night", "80s", "Divas", "Motown", "Girlband vs Boyband" and "Louis loves"—named after Louis Walsh. During the sixth live show, it was revealed that viewers would have a chance to suggest a theme for the jukebox. During the seventh live results show, the new theme was revealed as "Christmas". On 10 October 2016, Brooks Way confirmed that they would not be taking part in the show after being absent from the first live show. In a statement released by the official website to confirm their exit, Josh Brooks said, "Due to events in my personal life I've decided that it's best not to be on the show at this time. While not everything that has been claimed is true I would like to apologise to everyone involved." The same day, it was confirmed that
Four of Diamonds, who previously made Judges' Houses, would be replacing Brooks Way. Speaking of their second chance in the competition, the girls said that they "are so excited to be back" and "looking forward to performing live, working hard and showing everyone what they are made of". Speaking about why he brought the girl group back, groups mentor Walsh stated that he was "impressed with the girls" but only had "three spots in the live shows". At the time of the episode airing, many viewers were disappointed that they were not chosen and he stated that he'd "listened to the fans" and was "delighted to be bringing the girls back."
Musical guests Each results show features guest performances, with some guests performing during the main performance show. Performers included 2012
The X Factor winner
James Arthur on the first results show, the cast of
Motown: The Musical on the second live show, 2015 winner
Louisa Johnson and
Bruno Mars on the fourth live results show, and
Lady Gaga on the semi-final live results show,
The Weeknd, • Musical guest:
James Arthur ("
Say You Won't Let Go") It was announced at the beginning of Saturday's live show that Brooks Way would not be performing. A spokesperson for the show said: "Due to circumstances that have arisen, Brooks Way will not be appearing on tonight's show." Brooks Way were suspended from performing on only the first week. They withdrew the day after the first result show. They were due to perform "
Cake by the Ocean". Brooks Way were then later replaced by Four of Diamonds. ;Judges' votes to eliminate • Walsh: Saara Aalto – backed his own act, Bratavio. • Osbourne: Bratavio – effectively backed her own act, Saara Aalto. • Scherzinger: Bratavio – based on the sing-off performances. • Cowell: Bratavio – based on the sing-off performances.
Week 2 (15/16 October) • Theme: "
Motown" • Musical guests: • Saturday: Cast of
Motown: The Musical ("
Dancing in the Street") • Scherzinger: Saara Aalto – gave no reason but effectively backed her own act, Freddy Parker. • Osbourne: Freddy Parker – backed her own act, Saara Aalto. • Walsh: Freddy Parker – gave no reason. • Cowell: Saara Aalto – said the decision was harder than last week and chose to go with his gut. With the acts in the sing-off receiving two votes each, the result went to deadlock and reverted to the earlier public vote. Freddy Parker was eliminated as the act with the fewest public votes. • Guest mentor:
John Legend • Group performance: "
Year 3000" (with
Busted) • Musical guests: • Saturday:
Nicole Scherzinger ("
I'm Every Woman"/"
Respect") • Sunday: Busted ("Year 3000"; with finalists), • Walsh: Relley C – backed his own act, Four of Diamonds, who he said had more potential. • Osbourne: Four of Diamonds – gave no reason but effectively backed her own act, Relley C. • Scherzinger: Relley C – based on the sing-off performances. • Cowell: Relley C – said that Four of Diamonds had more potential. However, voting statistics revealed that Relley C received more votes than Four of Diamonds which meant that if Cowell sent the result to deadlock, Relley C would have been saved.
Week 4 (29/30 October) • Theme: Fright Night • Cowell: Four of Diamonds – gave no reason but effectively backed his own act, Gifty Louise. However, he did initially say Louise's name in response, before backtracking. • Walsh: Gifty Louise – backed his own act, Four of Diamonds, who he said had more potential. • Scherzinger: Gifty Louise – gave no reason. • Osbourne: Gifty Louise – gave no reason. However, voting statistics revealed that Louise received more votes than Four of Diamonds which meant that if Osbourne sent the result to deadlock, Louise would have been saved.
Week 5 (5/6 November) • Theme: "Girlband vs Boyband" • Group performance: "
Keep on Movin'" • Musical guests:
Emeli Sandé ("
Breathing Underwater") and
Robbie Williams ("
Love My Life") ;Judges' votes to eliminate • Walsh: Saara Aalto – gave no reason but effectively backed his own act, Four of Diamonds. • Osbourne: Four of Diamonds – gave no reason but effectively backed her own act, Saara Aalto. • Scherzinger: Four of Diamonds – based on the sing-off performances. • Cowell: Four of Diamonds – said he thought Four of Diamonds would be safe based on their first performance but concluded that Aalto was more likely to consistently improve following a bad week. However, voting statistics revealed that Aalto and Four of Diamonds received more votes than Lavery which meant that if Aalto won the lifeline vote, Lavery would have faced Four of Diamonds in the sing-off and in that scenario, if the result went to deadlock, Lavery would have been eliminated. In addition, if Four of Diamonds won the lifeline vote, Lavery would have faced Aalto in the sing-off and in that scenario, if the result went to deadlock, Lavery would have been eliminated.
Week 6 (12/13 November) • Theme: "Disco" • Group performance: "
Rise Up" • Musical guests: • Saturday:
Sister Sledge ("
We Are Family") • Sunday:
Nathan Sykes ("
Famous") and
Olly Murs ("
Grow Up") It was revealed during the sixth live show that the lifeline vote would not return for the remainder of the series. ;Judges' votes to eliminate • Cowell: Ryan Lawrie – gave no reason, but effectively backed his own act, Sam Lavery. • Scherzinger: Sam Lavery – gave no reason, but effectively backed her own act, Ryan Lawrie. • Walsh: Ryan Lawrie – stated that Lavery was who he picked as Cowell's wildcard. • Osbourne: Sam Lavery – could not decide and sent the result to deadlock; although while deliberating, she appeared as though she was going to vote against Lawrie due to him being in the bottom three three times prior; but she eventually said Lavery's name, indicating she was voting to eliminate Lavery. With the acts in the sing-off receiving two votes each, the result went to deadlock and reverted to the earlier public vote. Sam Lavery was eliminated as the act with the fewest public votes. • Musical guests: Cast of
School of Rock ("Teacher's Pet"),
Craig David ("
Change My Love") and
Alicia Keys ("
Blended Family (What You Do for Love)") ;Judges' votes to eliminate • Group performance: "
Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" • Musical guests:
Busted ("
On What You're On") and
Clean Bandit featuring
Anne-Marie and
Sean Paul ("
Rockabye") For the first time this series, the acts performed two songs. • Group performance: "
Do They Know It's Christmas? (2014)" • Musical guests:
Zara Larsson ("
I Would Like"/"
Lush Life") • Group performance: "Final Night"/"
Shout Out to My Ex"/"
Cake by the Ocean"/"
Can't Stop the Feeling!" (all finalists except Brooks Way, and Beck Martin, who reached bootcamp singing his own song, "Friday Night") • Musical guests:
Louis Tomlinson and
Steve Aoki ("
Just Hold On"), Honey G ("
Men in Black"/"
Ice Ice Baby"/"
Jump"/"The Honey G Show") and
The Weeknd ("
Can't Feel My Face"/"
Starboy") 5 After Midnight received the fewest public votes and was automatically eliminated. ;11 December • Themes: Song of the series; no theme
Madness ("
Mr Apples"/"
Our House"/"
It Must Be Love"), auditionees ("
Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now") and
Little Mix featuring
Charlie Puth ("Oops"/"
Touch") Following the announcement that Terry had won, he performed his winner's single, "
When Christmas Comes Around". ==Winner's single==