It is the end of August and that means it is time for the X Factor to return to our screens again. This is one of my favourite reality TV shows and I never miss an episode. We get to see who will be filling up our tabloid pages over the next few months if not years. This year the show is back with a new line up to the judging panel as Cheryl Cole has now joined the critics.

Many people will enter this show with a dream of being a worldwide music star, but many will fall at the first hurdle only to disappear back where they came from. For a few of the contests greater things have beckoned and some of the past winners have went on to dizzy heights, ie Leona Lewis who is currently in America selling many albums.

The X Factor began in 2004 with Steve Brookstein being the first winner. After winning the contest he signed under the record label Sony BMG, and reached number one in the UK charts with his first single 'Against all Odds'. His debut album also reached number one in the UK charts but unfortunately he never released a second single and was dropped from his record label. Since then he has performed at small concerts and has recently been given a role in a production called 'Our House'

Verdict - Flop

The second year of the show seen many talented singers and the lucky winner was Shayne Ward who also singed with Sony BMG. He had the Christmas Number one with the hugely successful 'Thats my goal' which stayed in the top 75 for a massive 21 weeks. His debut album also went to number one in the UK and 8 other countries. He has had a UK tour and also released a second album 'Breathless', which reached number 2 in the UK charts. He is currently working on his third album.

Verdict - Success

Leona is the most successful out of all the winners of X Factor so far. Her first single broke so many records including the download record after it was downloaded 50 000 times in half an hour. This song also reached Christmas Number one after selling over half a million copies, and is thought to have sold over one million copies in total. AT the beginning of last year she sold a £5 million 5 album deal in the US, and her first album went on to be the fastest ever selling debut album after reaching number one in both the UK,Ireland, Germany, Australia and several other countries.

Her second single, 'Bleeding Love' (video below), went on to spend 7 weeks at Number One in the UK chart. Leona is also scheduled to perform at the closing ceremony of this year's Olympics Games, and has planned a second album in 2009.

Verdict-Major success

Unfortunately for Leon Jackson he has not reached anywhere near the successes of Shayne Ward or Leona Lewis. He has yet to release an album after spending eight months working on it, and hsi only current success is his christmas number one.

Verdict-Flop