It's been an explosive year for X Factor. There have been new faces on the judging panel, as well as big dramas surrounding the judges and the contestants.
We take a quick look back at the series highlights - from the X-rated scandals to auto-tune, and public outrage when Wagner made the final 16 and Gamu didn't.
:: Guest judges
With Dannii Minogue at home in Australia awaiting the arrival of baby Ethan, Simon invited some guest stars on the judging panel for the auditions.
Some went down better than others with former Spice Girl Geri Haliwell going down like a lead balloon with audiences, while Katy Perry and Cheryl Cole got on like a house on fire.
Natalie Imbruglia, Pixie Lott and former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger were also guest judges.
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When Cheryl fell ill with malaria Nicole stood in for her at bootcamp too.
:: Auditions
The X Factor auditions are always remembered for those who perform the worst rather than the best, especially this year as Simon Cowell vowed to move away from contestant's sob stories.
Wannabes who were hard to miss at the auditions stages were the heavily fake tanned teenage mum Chloe Mafia.
The 19-year-old from Wakefield got through to boot camp, despite being embroiled in sex and drug scandals.
She admitted in an interview on This Morning to snorting cocaine but denied claims she was a prostitute, insisting she earned up to £200 a time for "sexy dancing".
Also making an impact at the auditions were friends Abbey Johnston and Lisa Parker from Leamington Spa, who had to be taken off stage by security after getting into a punch-up with each other.
The pair were booed for their rendition of X Factor winner Shayne Ward's That's My Goal and when guest judge Natalie Imbruglia tried to offer some constructive criticism, Lisa demanded: "Who are you?"
Auditionee Shirlena Johnson was seen being put through to bootcamp for her rendition of Duffy's Mercy, but she ended up losing out. Not only did she not get through to bootcamp, but she was booted out of the Miss Great Britain contest when organisers saw her reveal her real age of 30 on the show, when she had claimed to 28 on her application to Miss Great Britain.
And despite not making it through to the final, Gamu Nhengu was probably the most memorable audition. Her performance of Katrina And The Waves' hit Walking On Sunshine sparked the auto-tune row and then it emerged she faced a return to her native Zimbabwe after her mother Nokuthula Ngazana's visa application was turned down.
:: The final 16
In what has been described as one of the strongest finals ever, 32 acts were taken to the judges houses and only 12 were told they were going to the final. And everyone had an opinion on who they thought should make it.
With Dannii having just given birth and Cheryl just recovering from malaria, it was the first time they had ever heard some of their acts sing.
There was public outrage when Cheryl didn't choose Gamu as one of her finalists for the girls, instead choosing Katie Waissel and Cher Lloyd, who both broke down during their judges' houses performances.
This was a convenient distraction for Simon, mentoring the groups, allowing him to slip through boyband One Direction and girlband Belle Amie, both of which he had manufactured in bootcamp, without anyone kicking up a fuss.
Louis mentoring the over 28s of course chose Irish supermarket checkout woman Mary Byrne among others, and Dannii, mentoring the boys, decided to take a risk on unusual voices of Matt Cardle and Aiden Grimshaw among others.
For the first time ever in the show's history, each judge was allowed to choose a 'wild card' option from the acts they had just turned down.
Simon let through camp duo Diva Fever, Cheryl took big-voiced diva Trayc Cohen, Dannii chose Paije Richardson and Louis went for the outlandish Wagner.
:: Controversy
After the drama surrounding Gamu's first audition being 'auto-tuned' X Factor bosses vowed not to used the technique any longer.
Viewers commented on the show's website and complaints were made to Ofcom about the use of the controversial technique after the first audition show was aired.
Gamu continued to appear in the papers as fans campaigned for her to make the final line-up instead of apparently nervous Cher or Katie, and the 18-year-old Zimbabwean faced deportation from Britain.
Gamu and her family are now "hopeful" they'll be allowed to remain in the UK after the Home Office decided to reconsider her case.
Cher may have got through to the final but she was reported to be too fragile to cope with the pressure after she was shown sobbing all over Cheryl at the news she was one of her chosen acts.
Her rap style was also challenged, but over the weeks Cher became more confident and proved she could sing too.
Cheryl's contestant Katie Waissel was by far the most controversial.
The 24-year-old was revealed to have had a record contract in the US and starred in an internet TV programme.
Katie changed her image every week and received death threats from people who didn't believe she deserved to be there.
She almost seemed to give up herself at one point, sitting on the floor during on of her sing-off songs, but miraculously surviving four, before she was evicted in week eight.
Katie also had to cope with X-rated revelations that her grandmother is a porn star and sex escort.
:: Wagner-mania
Wagner did not win many friends in the X Factor house, moving out after a few weeks claiming he wanted some peace.
But Wagner was loved by the viewers, staying in until week eight.
The Brazilian performer, who would dance around the stage, loving his backing dancers as he presented mash-ups of songs in his own special way, was the light relief to the serious singing, and that won votes.
Dannii and Cheryl never seemed to know what to say, except when Wagner said the wrong thing about Cheryl and she decided to confront him.
Even Wagner admitted he didn't want to win, he just wanted to become the new Jedward, so let's see how many advertising deals he has by this time next year.
:: Fab finalists
Matt may have been the bookies' favourite, but he was up against a very strong final line-up this year.
With no auto-tune, everyone, well with the exception of Wagner perhaps, could sing and this was one of the best X Factors ever in terms of talent.
One Direction were only put together as a boyband at bootcamp stage, but the five piece got on well and were soon working on harmonies together and showcasing their strengths.
Rebecca started off the show and nervous and shone like a glamorous star in the final, with her powerful, husky voice.
Cher may have fallen apart at the judges' houses stage but she showed she could sing, rap, dance and keep it together as she battled it out through the weeks.
And winner Matt Cardle may have been suffering from a throat infection but he still showcased his unusual voice, able to hit high notes for a man, and strong musical talents, playing a guitar in the final.
