Lights, Camera, Melodrama!

Whether you consider every episode of X Factor to be Hunmissable or you were just a casual fan, you're probably very aware of the plethora of memes, gifs and viral moments the show has served us over the years. Rory speaks to Hunsnet creator, Gareth Howells in order to establish why the show is the gift that keeps on giving, which Hunreal X Factor stars will stand the test of time and who should be crowned X Factor's ultimate Hun.

WATCH RACHEL LESTER'S AUDITION HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3jo-QP9AKM

WATCH HOLLY JERVIS' AUDITION HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0j-FopmOf4

WATCH GARY & TULISA'S ON AIR SPAT HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Eruqh0dEEw

WATCH DANNII'S GENDER REFERENCE CRITIQUE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De0FMEo6EBQ

WATCH TULISA'S PERFORMANCE ON BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LptYqvCdf1o

WATCH ALEXANDRA BURKE & BEYONCÉ'S DUET HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccthIuJOi5A

Follow Lights, Camera, Melodrama! on Twitter and Instagram for memes, music and melodramatic content!

Join the conversation with Rory on Twitter and Instagram to find out what's in store on future episodes.

• Presented and produced by Rory Boyle
• Theme Music by Dominic Gozo
• Artwork by Miss Gloria

When Danyl Johnson auditioned for The X Factor in 2009, he captivated audiences from the word 'go', with Simon Cowell famously describing his first audition as the best he’d ever heard. Immediately becoming a frontrunner for the X Factor crown, Danyl's time on the show was met with some of the competition's most memorable and problematic critiques - including an ill-fated comment about Danyl's sexuality from Dannii Minogue that went down like a lead balloon with both the press and public, and an overconfident narrative that followed Danyl throughout the contest. Rory catches up with Danyl to discuss those infamous moments, as well as Danyl's backstage secrets and celebrity run-ins, highlights from his time on the show and what he's up to now.

WATCH DANYL'S FIRST AUDITION HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzj9z8QDTfU

WATCH DANNII'S CRITIQUE OF DANYL THAT RECEIVED OVER 4,000 OFCOM COMPLAINTS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De0FMEo6EBQ

LISTEN TO DANYL'S PODCAST, BEST THING: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wZNvre4xv27XNpRe2soln

Follow Lights, Camera, Melodrama! on Twitter and Instagram for memes, music and melodramatic content!

Join the conversation with Rory on Twitter and Instagram to find out what's in store on future episodes.

• Presented and produced by Rory Boyle
• Theme Music by Dominic Gozo
• Artwork by Miss Gloria

Samantha Reay auditioned for The X Factor in it's inaugural year in 2004 as a fresh-faced aspiring singer who skipped her honeymoon for a chance at stardom. But nothing could have prepared her for the body-shaming she experienced from the panel who labelled her "ordinary", "overweight" and "mission impossible". Told to "go on a diet", it later emerged that Sam was pregnant.

After the clip of her judge's critique went viral on Twitter in January 2019, a pandora's box was reopened for Sam, who had to experience the power of social media and infamous X Factor auditions first hand. With her audition put under the melodramatic microscope, Sam reveals what we didn't see on camera, as well as the lasting effects from her time on the show.

WATCH SAMANTHA'S AUDITION HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0vvKv5K3Ks

Follow Lights, Camera, Melodrama! on Twitter and Instagram for memes, music and melodramatic content!

Join the conversation with Rory on Twitter and Instagram to find out what's in store on future episodes.

If you've been affected by any of the issues in this episode and need support, you can call Beat - a charity for those affected by body image issues and eating disorders - 365 days a year on 0808 801 0677 or visit their website for further resources.

• Presented and produced by Rory Boyle
• Theme Music by Dominic Gozo
• Artwork by Miss Gloria

Following Misha B sharing her truth about her time on the show, Rory discusses the experience of Black women on The X Factor - both in front of and behind the camera - with Ray Sang and Teeyana Aromi, hosts of the Rhymeshe podcast.  From Gamu's shock exit from the contest in 2010 to Mel B being groped by Louis Walsh live on Xtra Factor in 2014, this episode aims to establish what the lasting legacy will be for Black women on The X Factor.

WATCH THE VIDEOS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Misha B's Judges' Critique: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rURZ28fzsrw
• Misha B's X Factor Truth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Okxh9eL0cw
• Alexandra Burke - Experiences of Racism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdjU5pScks0
• Leona Lewis - Experiences of Racism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp6Uo8ZKKc8
• Leigh-Ann Pinnock - Experiences of Racism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_T2zcyuqDA
• Mel B - Sexually Assaulted on Xtra Factor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrPR1DcZxxg

Follow Lights, Camera, Melodrama! on Twitter and Instagram for memes, music and melodramatic content!

Join the conversation with Rory on Twitter and Instagram to find out what's in store on future episodes.

• Presented and produced by Rory Boyle
• Theme Music by Dominic Gozo
• Artwork by Miss Gloria

From Nicole Scherzinger's green smoke bomb to Whitney Houston singing herself out of her own dress, Rory discusses X Factor's most iconic and memorable celebrity guest performances with the hosts of Right Back At Ya, David Lim and Joel Babbington. Expect Kelly Rowland's position-switching mole, Cheryl's unforgettable solo debut and Alexandra Burke's not one, but two, renditions of Bad Boys all put under the melodramatic microscope.  

WATCH THE PERFORMANCES DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Alexandra Burke - Bad Boys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4c3uqW-OeBA
• Alexandra Burke & JLS - Bad Boys/Everybody In Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQo79xcyD3E
• Kelly Rowland - Medley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDpmSnNLqb0
• Cheryl - Fight For This Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0pF2MTfl9o
• Britney Spears - Womanizer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-HsM6NA4eE
• Whitney Houston - Million Dollar Bill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WSd6eRUDQ8
• Nicole Scherzinger - Poison: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Av_WttPAuE4

Follow Lights, Camera, Melodrama! on Twitter and Instagram for memes, music and melodramatic content!

Join the conversation with Rory on Twitter and Instagram to find out what's in store on future episodes.

• Presented and produced by Rory Boyle
• Theme Music by Dominic Gozo
• Artwork by Miss Gloria

Amy Burdett, better known as Ariel, The Holistic Vocal Coach, gave us what is arguably X Factor's most infamous first audition when she performed an academic construction for the judges in 2008 - but in November 2019,  Ariel tragically took her own life. Her cause of death was drug toxicity and a stab wound to the neck.

In order to establish why Ariel left such an impact and what her lasting legacy will be, Rory speaks to Harrison Brocklehurst, a journalist who followed Ariel's story, and Andy Strach, a friend of Ariel's who was kept entirely in the dark about her X Factor appearance.

WATCH ARIEL'S AUDITION HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iqx8ji7VgrQ&t=1s

WATCH ARIEL'S PERFORMANCE OF 'AN ALIEN FOR CHRISTMAS' HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KocSyx5Q3Ro

Follow Lights, Camera, Melodrama! on Twitter and Instagram for memes, music and melodramatic content!

Join the conversation with Rory on Twitter and Instagram to find out what's in store on future episodes.

If you've been affected by any of the issues in this episode and need emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected], visit a Samaritans branch in-person or go to the Samaritans website: https://www.samaritans.org/

• Presented and produced by Rory Boyle
• Theme Music by Dominic Gozo
• Artwork by Miss Gloria

Rory speaks to former X Factor hopeful Kelly Northall, who shares her full story for the first time. Kelly's audition is probably most famous for her very, very harsh verbal smackdown of Simon Cowell, after he made the fatal error of knocking Kelly’s less than stellar vocals.  Kelly's disgruntled father Peter also makes an iconic appearance when he storms into the audition room to give the judges a piece of his mind. But what you might not know is that the drama really began for Kelly once her audition aired...

WATCH KELLY'S AUDITION HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnrBC7HWzdA&t=6s

Follow Lights, Camera, Melodrama! on Twitter and Instagram for memes, music and melodramatic content!

Join the conversation with Rory on Twitter and Instagram to find out what's in store on future episodes.

• Presented and produced by Rory Boyle
• Theme Music by Dominic Gozo
• Artwork by Miss Gloria

A welcome from presenter and producer Rory Boyle, who'll be putting The X Factor under the melodramatic microscope with the help of former contestants, journalists and super fans.