The X Factor: Season 3

The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. The third series was broadcast on ITV from 19 August 2006 until 16 December 2006. Twelve million people tuned into the final on 16 December 2006, which saw Leona Lewis declared the winning act and Simon Cowell the winning mentor. After the 9 December show, Cowell became the winning judge even though the series had not yet finished, as two of his acts, Ray Quinn and Lewis, became the two finalists. Instead of the earlier red and purple colour scheme, this year's theme was red and blue. A new-look website for the third series was launched on 11 August 2006.