X Factor (Albanian TV series)

2012 TV series or program

X Factor

Also known as| X Factor Albania
Created by| Simon Cowell
Presented by| Alketa Vejsiu
Judges|

* Pandi Laço
* Alban Skënderaj
* Juliana Pasha
* Vesa Luma
* Altuna Sejdiu
* Soni Malaj
* Miriam Cani
* Bleona Qereti
* Adi Krasta
* Arilena Ara
* Elhaida Dani
* Young Zerka

Country of origin|

* Albania
* Kosovo

Original language| Albanian
No. of seasons| 6
Production
Producers|

* Vera Grabocka
* Alketa Vejsiu

Production locations| Tirana, Albania
Production companies|

* Fremantle Albania
* Syco TV
* TV Klan

Original release
Network| TV Klan
Release| 8 January 2012 (2012-01-08) –
1 June 2015 (2015-06-01)
Release| 8 December 2023 (2023-12-08) –
present
Related
The X Factor

X Factor is an Albanian television reality music competition, based on the original British series, and an addition to The X Factor franchise, to find new singing talent. The show began airing on 8 January 2012 and was broadcast by TV Klan.

The judging panel for the most recent season consisted of Adi Krasta, Arilena Ara, Young Zerka and Soni Malaj.[1][2] Other judges from previous seasons consisted of Pandi Laço, Alban Skënderaj, Juliana Pasha, Vesa Luma, Altuna Sejdiu, Miriam Cani, Bleona Qereti and Elhaida Dani. The show is hosted by Alketa Vejsiu. She applied to acquire the rights of the show along with Top Channel and TV Klan. Syco TV gave the rights to her, then she sold parts of the rights to TV Klan. After losing the rights of The X Factor, Top Channel acquired the rights of the talent show, The Voice.[3]

The show ran for 4 seasons, with the last episode airing on 1 June 2015, and then TV Klan announced that there were no plans to air another series of the programme. On 6 June 2022, Alketa Vejsiu announced that after 7 years, the show would return, with his fifth season in 2023 on TV Klan.[4][5] The fifth season began airing on 8 December 2023.[6]

There have been six winners: Sheila Haxhiraj, Arilena Ara, Ergi Dini, Edea Demaliaj, Alis Kallaçi, and Rigersa Loka.

On 9 January 2025, was announced a new version with the name X Factor Kids, for children until the ages of 12.[7]

## Overview

[edit]

It was announced that there would be four categories on the show, Males 15 to 23, Females 15 to 23, over 23s and The Groups. Since the fifth season, are only three categories on the show, the Boys category, the Girls category and the Mix category.

Also it was announced that there would be five stages of the competition. The first stage is known as the "Producers audition", the producers of the show choose which of the contestants will have the right to audition in front of the judges. Next the contestants audition in front of the judges where they sing at least one song with instrumentals or A Capella. The third stage of the competition is Bootcamp, where from thousands of contestants only 150 are left. The fourth stage includes the "Judge's houses" or known in Albania as "Vilat e Jurive", where only 32 contestants,8 per category would fight for their place in the live shows. And the last stage of the competition would be the Live shows, where four contestants per category will make it.[8]

In the first live show the public couldn't vote or make a decision. In the second live show and on, only the public had the right to vote and decide which contestants from all categories would end up in the bottom two. The two contestants with the lowest number of votes would end up in the bottom two, then they sing again for survival, the four judges would decide which contestant they want to eliminate. If one of the judges has his or her contestant on the bottom two, he or she usually decides to eliminate the other contestant in the bottom two, so the real decision is in the hands of the two or (if one judge has two of its contestants in the bottom two) three judges that don't have their own contestants in the bottom two. The show goes this way on the live shows every week one or two contestants are voted off, until the grand finale on June 10 when the winner is announced.

The auditions were held in different cities across Albania and Kosovo, the producers auditions included many cities but the auditions in front of the judges were held only in a few. The cities that auditions were held with the judges are Tirana, Vlora, Elbasan, Shkoder and the Kosovan capital Pristina. The first episode aired half of Tirana's auditions on January 8. Vesa Luma wasn't the judge on all of the city auditions, she was chosen as the fourth judge only after all of the city auditions ended. She judged on the Shkodra's audition also. It was reported that more than 7000 people auditioned for the show, which broke a record for the biggest number of auditions in any talent show across Albania, Kosovo and the Balkans.

On the official Facebook page of the X Factor, it was announced that the show would be first aired on January 8, 2012. It was reported that the winner of the show would be signed to the famous label Syco Music, which has signed the likes of Leona Lewis, One Direction, Susan Boyle, Little Mix, Cher Lloyd, Alexandra Burke, Westlife etc. The winner of the first season of X factor Albania was Sheila Haxhiraj.

## Judges and hosts

[edit]

Cast  | Seasons

|

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
Host
Alketa Vejsiu | Main
Judging panelists
Alban Skënderaj | Main |
Pandi Laço | Main |
Juliana Pasha | Main |
Vesa Luma | Main |  | Guest |
Altuna Sejdiu |  | Main |
Soni Malaj[a] |  | Main |  | Main
Bleona Qereti |  | Main |
Miriam Cani |  | Main |
Adi Krasta |  | Main
Arilena Ara |  | Main
Young Zerka |  | Main
Elhaida Dani[a] |  | Main

1. ^ a b Elhaida Dani originally signed up to serve on the sixth season as judge full-time. However, Dani was not able to resume her duties for the live shows. Soni Malaj replaced her, and served as judge until the end of the season.[9]

## Series summary

[edit]

* Act in Juliana's Category
* Act in Alban's Category
* Act in Altuna's Category
* Act in Soni's Category
* Act in Miriam's Category
* Act in Bleona's Category
* Act in Arilena's Category
* Act in Zerka's Category
* Act in Elhaida's Category

Season  | Originally aired  | Winner  | Runner-up | Third place  | Winning mentor  | Presenter  | Main judges (Seat order)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

First aired | Last aired | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4
1 | 8 January 2012  | 10 June 2012  | Sheila Haxhiraj
Girls  | Kristo Thano
Boys  | Xhesika Polo
Girls  | Juliana Pasha | Alketa Vejsiu | Alban Skënderaj  | Juliana Pasha  | Vesa Luma  | Pandi Laço
2 | 28 October 2012  | 31 March 2013  | Arilena Ara
Girls  | Aldo Bardhi
Boys  | Natyral
Groups  | Altuna Sejdiu | Soni Malaj  | Altuna Sejdiu
3 | 15 September 2013  | 23 February 2014  | Ergi Dini
Boys  | Senad Rrahmani
Over 23s  | Sarah Memmola
Over 23s
4 | 5 January 2015  | 1 June 2015  | Edea Demaliaj
Girls  | Genti Deda
Boys  | Dilan Reka
Boys  | Miriam Cani | Bleona Qereti  | Miriam Cani
5 | 8 December 2023  | 19 April 2024  | Alis Kallaçi
Boys  | Jetmir Kanani
Mix  | Kleansa Susaj
Girls  | Arilena Ara | Young Zerka  | Elhaida Dani  | Arilena Ara  | Adi Krasta
6 | 8 November 2024  | 4 April 2025  | Rigersa Loka
Girls  | Salvatore Mete
Mix  | Leandra Godaj
Girls  | Soni Malaj

## Judges' categories and their contestants

[edit]

In each season, each judge is allocated a category to mentor and chooses four acts to progress to the live shows. This table shows, for each season, which category each judge was allocated and which acts he or she put through to the live shows.

Key:

– Winning judge/category. Winners are in bold, eliminated contestants in small font.
Season  | Alban Skënderaj  | Juliana Pasha  | Vesa Luma  | Pandi Laço

|
|
|
|

One | Boys
Kristo Thano
Anxhelo Miho
Amarildo Shahinaj
Arianit Bellopoja | Girls
Sheila Haxhiraj
Xhesika Polo
Festina Mejzini
Savjana Vjerdha | Over 23s
Lirije Rashiti
Besa Breca
Gerald Zyfi
Matilda Shushari | Groups
Classic Boys
X Group
Focus
Red Roses
Two | Alban Skënderaj  | Soni Malaj  | Altuna Sejdiu  | Pandi Laço
Groups
Natyral
KSAL
Soul Sisters
Foxy Ladies | Boys
Aldo Bardhi
Sardi Strugaj
Petro Xhori
Herri Beluli | Girls
Arilena Ara
Antonela Çekixhi
Elisa Salla
Xhina Kelmendi
Shkelqesa Sadiku | No Limit
Kanita Suma
Egzona Ademi
Suela Malasi
Ina Torba
Rezart Saliasi
Three | Over 23s
Senad Rrahmani
Sarah Memmola
Mia Morina
Fatmir Durmishi | Groups
Exception
Free Spirit
Nimfat
Dream Girls | Boys
Ergi Dini
Leotrim Zejnullahu
Amadeo Gjura
Ademir Fresku | Girls
Enxhi Nasufi
Laura Kërliu
Arissa Rexho
Kristina Leka
Four | Alban Skënderaj  | Bleona Qereti  | Miriam Cani  | Pandi Laço
Over 23s
Manuel Moscati
Alice
Ylenia Iorio
Adela Curra | Boys
Genti Deda
Dilan Reka
Matteo Brento
Igli Zarka
Gerald Celibashi | Girls
Edea Demaliaj
Floriana Rexhepi
Lediana Matoshi
Mirela Boka | Groups
Brunetts
X Roads
Mama Pop
Double F
Five | Young Zerka  | Elhaida Dani  | Arilena Ara  | —
Mix
Jetmir Kanani
Frank Ibrahimi
Ingrid Havalja
Alba Dajlani
Borana Xhemali | Girls
Kleansa Susaj
Anisa Shabani
Wendy Zylaj
Kejsi Jazxhi
Luna Çausholli | Boys
Alis Kallaçi
Niki Zaimi
Kevin Malo
Gent Disha
Aldo Prendushi
Groups
The Chemicals
Six | Young Zerka  | Soni Malaj  | Arilena Ara
Mix
Salvatore Mete
Orjald Debinja
Era Bako
Albi & Elvi Kapedani
Ergi Hasani | Boys
Petro Fejzo
Fortunato Cugilari
Valdrin Mustafa
Amarildo Vesho
Lorian Dedaj | Girls
Rigersa Loka
Leandra Godaj
Alda "Troy" Cuka
Vashat
Anja Myrtaj
Bletisa Karaj

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Pas Adi Krastës, zbulohen anëtarët e tjerë të "X Factor Albania"".
2. ^ "Zbulohet anëtari tjetër i jurisë së X-Factor: Zhani Ciko".
3. ^ (15 August 2011).Alketa sjell “X Factor” në Shqipëri (Alketa brings "X Factor" to Albania Retrieved 5 December 2011.
4. ^ "Surpriza e madhe, rikthehet "X Factor" në Tv Klan".
5. ^ "Pas 7 vitesh, rikthehet "X Factor Albania"".
6. ^ ""X Factor" nis sonte në Tv Klan".
7. ^ "Tv Klan sjell për herë të parë "X Factor Kids" në Shqipëri, zbuloni datën e audicioneve".
8. ^ (20 September 2011). Alketa, në kërkim të talenteve për “X Factor” (Alketa in search of talents for The X Factor) Retrieved 5 December 2011.
9. ^ "Produksioni ndryshon anëtarin e jurisë së "X Factor Albania" 24 orë para premierës". POPART. December 19, 2024.

* v
* t
* e

X Factor Albania

Seasons|

* 1
* 2
* 3
* 4
* 5
* 6

Winners|

* Sheila Haxhiraj
* Arilena Ara
* Ergi Dini
* Edea Demaliaj
* Alis Kallaçi

Judges|

* Adi Krasta
* Alban Skënderaj
* Arilena Ara
* Bleona
* Elhaida Dani
* Juliana Pasha
* Miriam Cani
* Soni Malaj
* Tuna
* Vesa Luma
* Young Zerka

* v
* t
* e

The X Factor

Africa|

* South Africa

Americas|

* Brazil
* Colombia
* Chile
* United States

Asia-Pacific|

* Australia
* China
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Israel
* Kazakhstan
* New Zealand
* Philippines
* Thailand
* Vietnam

Europe|

* Albania and Kosovo
* Armenia
* Belarus [ru]
* Belgium
* Bulgaria
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Finland
* France
* Georgia
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Italy
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Malta
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Sekret Uspekha
* Faktor A
* Glavnaya Stsena
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* United Kingdom
* Battle of the Stars
* Celebrity
* The Band

Regional|

* MENA Region
* X Factor Around the World
* X Factor Adria (former Yugoslavia)

*[No.]: Number
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template