The live shows began on 10 October 2009, and continued through to the finale on 12 December 2009. Starting with this series, the results shows were on Sunday nights instead of Saturdays as they were for the first five series. In another change to the format of previous years, the remaining finalists performed a song as a group at the start of each results show. As previously, each week had a different song theme. Beginning with the quarter-final of the live shows, with five acts remaining, each contestant would sing two songs. Up to the quarter-final, the two acts with the fewest public votes were in the bottom two and would sing again in the "final showdown". The songs they performed in the bottom two were of their own choice and did not necessarily follow that week's theme. The four judges then each chose one act from the bottom two that they wanted to be eliminated from the show. If each act received an equal number of judges' votes, the vote went to deadlock and the act with the fewest public votes was eliminated. From the quarter-final onwards, there was no bottom two and the act with the fewest votes was eliminated.
Musical guests During each results show, either one or two guest artists would perform.
Series 5 winner
Alexandra Burke and
Robbie Williams performed on the first live results show, and judge Cole on the second.
Michael Bublé and
Westlife appeared on the third week, and
Bon Jovi and
JLS performed in week 4.
Leona Lewis and
The Black Eyed Peas performed for week 5, while week 6 featured a performance from
Shakira. Gennaro Castaldo of
HMV remarked: "In an age when there are very few truly mass-audience platforms left, the X Factor has become pivotal for those labels and artists seeking to reach a family-based audience." Paul Williams, editor of
Music Week, explained: "The impact of the programme's incredible numbers on music sales is all too evident, with the top end of the singles and albums charts week after week since the current season began heavily dominated by whoever has been on the show."
Results summary ;Colour key Act in Boys Act in Girls Act in Over 25s Act in Groups • On behalf of Walsh's absence, an automatic vote was cast against Rachel Adedeji, based on the usual assumption that he would vote to save his act who he mentored, Kandy Rain if he were present which typically occurs when a judge has their own act who they mentor in the final showdown. • Guest mentor:
Robbie Williams • Group performance: "
I Gotta Feeling" • Musical guests:
Alexandra Burke featuring
Flo Rida ("
Bad Boys") and Robbie Williams ("
Bodies") Due to this, the show did not take its usual format; there were no lights and neither O'Leary nor the three other judges made an entrance. Instead, the show commenced with O'Leary already on stage and the judges already sitting at their desk. Both O'Leary and Cowell addressed the viewers and audience regarding Gately's death and Walsh's absence. Following this, the show went on as normal with Minogue, Cowell and Cole present as judges. ;Judges' votes to eliminate For the first time in the show's history, a contestant sang a cover version of a new song that had not yet even been sung live by the original recording artist. Cowell's decision for Danyl Johnson to sing "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" garnered a disapproving reception from Houston, with Cowell saying that Johnson "didn't exactly get rave reviews [from Houston and Davis] in that room [for the masterclass]." ;Judges' votes to eliminate • Guest mentors:
Brian May and
Roger Taylor • Group performances: "
Bohemian Rhapsody" (performed with Brian May and Roger Taylor) and "
You Are Not Alone" (all finalists) • Musical guest:
Shakira ("
Did It Again") • Best bits song: "
One" ;Judges' votes to eliminate • Group performance: "
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" • Musical guests:
Susan Boyle ("
Wild Horses") and
Mariah Carey ("
I Want to Know What Love Is") • Best bits song: "
Let's Get Ready to Rhumble" ;Judges' votes to eliminate • Cowell: John & Edward – backed his own act, Olly Murs. • Cole: John & Edward – gave no reason, despite saying that she would be sad if John & Edward leave the competition. • Walsh: Olly Murs – backed his own act, John & Edward; though expressed surprise that Murs was in the bottom two instead of Lloyd Daniels. • Minogue: John & Edward – based on the premise that the show is a "singing competition". However, voting statistics revealed that John & Edward received more votes than Murs which meant that if Minogue sent the result to deadlock, John & Edward would have advanced to the quarter-final and Murs would have been eliminated.
Week 8: Quarter-Final (28/29 November) • Themes: Songs by
Take That; songs by
Elton John • Group performance: "
I Don't Feel Like Dancin" • Musical guests:
Alicia Keys ("
Empire State of Mind" / "
Doesn't Mean Anything" / "
No One") and
Rihanna ("
Russian Roulette") • Best bits song: "
You Give Me Something" The quarter-final did not feature a final showdown and instead the act with the fewest public votes, Lloyd Daniels, was automatically eliminated. After his elimination, Daniels reprised his quarter-final performance of "A Million Love Songs" as his exit song.
Week 9: Semi-Final (5/6 December) • Themes: Songs by
Michael Jackson; mentor's choice • Group performance: "
Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" / "
Don't Stop the Music" • Musical guests:
Lady Gaga ("
Bad Romance") and
Janet Jackson ("
All for You" / "
Make Me") • Best bits song: "
What About Now" The semi-final did not feature a final showdown and instead the act with the fewest public votes, Danyl Johnson, was automatically eliminated. After his elimination, Johnson reprised his semi-final performance of "Man in the Mirror" as his exit song.
Week 10: Final (12/13 December) 12 December • Themes: Audition songs; celebrity duets; mentor's favourite performance ("song of the series") • Musical guest:
Robbie Williams ("
You Know Me") • Best bits song: "
What a Wonderful World" The show also featured
Jeff Brazier reporting from Solomon's home town of
Dagenham,
Michael Underwood in
Colchester for Murs and
Kimberley Walsh in McElderry's home town of
South Shields.
13 December • Themes: Favourite performance ("song of the series"); winner's single • Group performance: "
Never Forget" (all finalists) • Musical guests:
Alexandra Burke and
JLS ("
Bad Boys" / "
Everybody in Love"),
Leona Lewis ("
Stop Crying Your Heart Out"),
George Michael ("
December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas)"),
Paul McCartney ("
Drive My Car" and "
Live and Let Die" ) • Best bits songs: "
Red" (Olly Murs) & "
The World's Greatest" (Joe McElderry) ==Sponsors==