The Talent Factory - Inside The Music Machine

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Talent

20220926

20221003 (R1)

What's it like to go through a TV talent show? X Factor's Amelia Lily goes back to Pop Idol and X Factor's golden age to hear their impact on popular culture from the perspective of the contestants who lived it. From the likes of Zoe Birkett to Niki Evans, Joe McElderry to Olly Murs, Hear'Say to Will Young, the stars of the shows take us inside the schemes and dreams which still reverberate through the industry today.

What's looked after more, the TV Show or the talent? Amelia Lily opens the talent factory

Chronicling how reality TV singing competitions changed UK music forever.

Judges

20220926

20221003 (R1)

Any talent show needs judges. But how seriously did TV judges take that responsibility? And what was it like to be on the receiving end of that critical, very public feedback? From Simon Cowell to Cheryl and Dannii, Alesha, Nicole, Louis and Sharon, each judge had a different role to play on the X Factor. And what's the actual difference between a TV judge and a Coach on The Voice?

There's no talent show without judges. But is it fair if they get all the attention?

Chronicling how reality TV singing competitions changed UK music forever.

Tears

20220926

20221003 (R1)

Crying contestants might be such a key part of TV talent shows that it's now a clich退, but is that OK? Pushing people to the brink for entertainment can happen naturally, but how much is planned for the cameras? Joe McElderry and Danyl Johnson reflect on their X Factor journeys and how their personal stories were nudged in different directions for those all-important live-show VTs.

Crying contestants are a key part of TV talent shows, but who's really behind the tears?

Chronicling how reality TV singing competitions changed UK music forever.

Tantrums

20220926

20221003 (R1)

How did the talent show contestant backstory evolve, and were some TV tantrums justified? And could a judge's song choice really cause controversy, and even lean towards favouritism? X Factor, The Voice and Britain's Got Talent vocal coach Yvie Burnett shares tales from those shows, plus former X Factor contestant Niki Evans opens up about a truly dark day of filming.

Chronicling how reality TV singing competitions changed UK music forever.

Fame

20220926

20221005 (R1)

In 2009, there was a chart battle on an epic scale: X Factor winner Joe McElderry vs Rage Against the Machine. Joe meets the campaigners behind that chart battle for the very first time, as they share how it felt to be in the media whirlwind then, and how they feel about it now. Plus we open up the Radio 1 archives to hear Little Mix from the morning after they won X Factor.

For the very first time Joe McElderry meets the Rage campaigners who battled him for no.1

Chronicling how reality TV singing competitions changed UK music forever.

Money

20220926

20221005 (R1)

So you've competed on a TV talent show - whether you win or lose, there's money to be made, right? Well, sometimes, but the contestants don't always see the cash.

Plus why the phone voting element of some shows does much more than pick a winner. And this time from the archives, we zone in on how Matt Cardle was feeling the morning after he'd won X Factor in 2010, the same night he duetted with Rihanna.

So you've competed on a TV talent show - win or lose, there's money to be made, right?

Chronicling how reality TV singing competitions changed UK music forever.

Survival

20220926

20221005 (R1)

It can be a risky business if you decide to go through the TV talent show machine, but the rewards can be immense. Susan Boyle, James Arthur and Matt Cardle are just a few of those who've survived the process, but not without a few personal and public bruises. Plus how X Factor nudged Fleur East into having a hit with Uptown Funk before Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars even had the chance.

Tales of talent show survivors, from Jedward to Fleur East, James Arthur and Susan Boyle.

Chronicling how reality TV singing competitions changed UK music forever.

Legacy

20221010

20221005 (R1)

With X Factor back in the news, Amelia Lily looks at the future for TV talent shows and what needs to change. Also, Joe McElderry reveals how, as an 18-year-old, he had to suffer inappropriate interviews about his sexuality. We also hear how nostalgia can work in some people's favour and what's next for the TV talent format.

With X Factor back in the news, Amelia Lily looks at the future for TV talent shows.

Chronicling how reality TV singing competitions changed UK music forever.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Talent	20220926	20221003 (R1)	What's it like to go through a TV talent show? X Factor's Amelia Lily goes back to Pop Idol and X Factor's golden age to hear their impact on popular culture from the perspective of the contestants who lived it. From the likes of Zoe Birkett to Niki Evans, Joe McElderry to Olly Murs, Hear'Say to Will Young, the stars of the shows take us inside the schemes and dreams which still reverberate through the industry today. What's looked after more, the TV Show or the talent? Amelia Lily opens the talent factory Chronicling how reality TV singing competitions changed UK music forever.
02	Judges	20220926	20221003 (R1)	Any talent show needs judges. But how seriously did TV judges take that responsibility? And what was it like to be on the receiving end of that critical, very public feedback? From Simon Cowell to Cheryl and Dannii, Alesha, Nicole, Louis and Sharon, each judge had a different role to play on the X Factor. And what's the actual difference between a TV judge and a Coach on The Voice? There's no talent show without judges. But is it fair if they get all the attention? Chronicling how reality TV singing competitions changed UK music forever.
03	Tears	20220926	20221003 (R1)	Crying contestants might be such a key part of TV talent shows that it's now a clich退, but is that OK? Pushing people to the brink for entertainment can happen naturally, but how much is planned for the cameras? Joe McElderry and Danyl Johnson reflect on their X Factor journeys and how their personal stories were nudged in different directions for those all-important live-show VTs. Crying contestants are a key part of TV talent shows, but who's really behind the tears? Chronicling how reality TV singing competitions changed UK music forever.
04	Tantrums	20220926	20221003 (R1)	How did the talent show contestant backstory evolve, and were some TV tantrums justified? And could a judge's song choice really cause controversy, and even lean towards favouritism? X Factor, The Voice and Britain's Got Talent vocal coach Yvie Burnett shares tales from those shows, plus former X Factor contestant Niki Evans opens up about a truly dark day of filming. Chronicling how reality TV singing competitions changed UK music forever.
05	Fame	20220926	20221005 (R1)	In 2009, there was a chart battle on an epic scale: X Factor winner Joe McElderry vs Rage Against the Machine. Joe meets the campaigners behind that chart battle for the very first time, as they share how it felt to be in the media whirlwind then, and how they feel about it now. Plus we open up the Radio 1 archives to hear Little Mix from the morning after they won X Factor. For the very first time Joe McElderry meets the Rage campaigners who battled him for no.1 Chronicling how reality TV singing competitions changed UK music forever.
06	Money	20220926	20221005 (R1)	So you've competed on a TV talent show - whether you win or lose, there's money to be made, right? Well, sometimes, but the contestants don't always see the cash. Plus why the phone voting element of some shows does much more than pick a winner. And this time from the archives, we zone in on how Matt Cardle was feeling the morning after he'd won X Factor in 2010, the same night he duetted with Rihanna. So you've competed on a TV talent show - win or lose, there's money to be made, right? Chronicling how reality TV singing competitions changed UK music forever.
07	Survival	20220926	20221005 (R1)	It can be a risky business if you decide to go through the TV talent show machine, but the rewards can be immense. Susan Boyle, James Arthur and Matt Cardle are just a few of those who've survived the process, but not without a few personal and public bruises. Plus how X Factor nudged Fleur East into having a hit with Uptown Funk before Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars even had the chance. Tales of talent show survivors, from Jedward to Fleur East, James Arthur and Susan Boyle. Chronicling how reality TV singing competitions changed UK music forever.
08	Legacy	20221010	20221005 (R1)	With X Factor back in the news, Amelia Lily looks at the future for TV talent shows and what needs to change. Also, Joe McElderry reveals how, as an 18-year-old, he had to suffer inappropriate interviews about his sexuality. We also hear how nostalgia can work in some people's favour and what's next for the TV talent format. With X Factor back in the news, Amelia Lily looks at the future for TV talent shows. Chronicling how reality TV singing competitions changed UK music forever.