The X Factor is a 2004 English-language series developed by Simon Cowell directed by Phil Heyes. The X Factor was produced under the production house Syco Entertainment in collaboration with Thames and Talkback Thames. The series originally aired on ITV. Those acts who survived the auditions entered a bootcamp stage in which the judges each took charge of a category of contestants to mentor, determining who may move on to the live stages of the contest, with a public vote in the live rounds eliminating these contestants one by one. The x factor features Louis Walsh in the lead role along with an ensemble cast including Simon Cowell, Dermot O'leary, Sharon Osbourne, Peter Dickson, Cheryl and Nicole Scherzinger. The series has a running time of 60-150 minutes for each episode. The show has a total of 445 episodes. Distribution rights for the show were acquired by Fremantle. Those acts who survived the auditions entered a bootcamp stage in which the judges each took charge of a category of contestants to mentor, determining who may move on to the live stages of the contest, with a public vote in the live rounds eliminating these contestants one by one.