When is The X Factor 2017 Live Final on ITV tonight, who’s on the judges panel and who is presenting?
ITV'S The X Factor ends TONIGHT with the second live final, as the remaining singers Grace Davies and Rak-Su battle for the top spot.
Here's the lowdown on the series, the judging panel, the changes in the format and what time it is on.
What time is The X Factor Live Final on tonight and who is on hosting duties?
The X Factor: Live Final is on TONIGHT, Sunday December 3, at 7.20pm on ITV.
With the auditions, Bootcamp, the fearsome Six Chair Challenge and the Judges' Houses – one of the show's highlights –done and dusted, it's time for the last of the live shows.
Dermot O'Leary has returned to hosting duties after making his big comeback to the show last year.
Who are the judges for The X Factor 2017?
Despite heavy speculation of a judging shake up, the panel is exactly the same as last year.
Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne have all been on the panel.
It's the first time in seven years that X Factor bosses have kept the same judging panel as the year before.
A source said: “The chemistry was perfect last year, so it’s only natural to want to bring the same line-up together again."
What were the changes for The X Factor 2017?
Simon Cowell made a whole host of changes this year to try and pull in more viewers.
The live weekend shows were cut from ten to six with acts voted off on both Saturdays and Sundays meaning “tedious” performance-only Saturday episodes, which got low ratings, will be axed.
Star guest artists performed on both days and auditions were held at Thorpe Park in the hope that fun theme park footage would win viewers.
Simon discouraged novelty acts like Honey G, who came fifth last year as audience figures hit an all-time low and the show was trounced by rival Strictly Come Dancing.
A source told The Sun: “They are doing the Thorpe Park auditions early on too, because producers think the unconventional location will create some funny footage.
“They want to get shots of the judges on white-knuckle rides. Ultimately, show bosses are determined to make another star.
“They don’t want the show to be a laughing stock again like it was with Honey G.”
Show bosses also revamped the format for this year by letting fans backstage.
Special tickets allowed audience members to “rub shoulders” with hopefuls in a special holding room before they perform.
The show also encouraged contestants to sing their own songs this year.
A source told the Mirror: "Simon knows he can’t change the format too much but one thing he and the contestants can change is what’s sung.
“If there’s lots of new material it could attract a new audience."
more x factor gossip
Was the jukebox back for the live shows?
The controversial jukebox wheel used to be spun at the end of the Sunday night’s results show to “randomly” choose the theme for the following week.
But it made some rather non-random decisions.
Fright Night happened to be selected on the week of Halloween and a Boyband vs Girlband theme was picked minutes after female group Four of Diamonds were saved from the bottom two.
Simon Cowell confirmed that the jukebox gimmick would not be returning for the 2017 series of The X Factor.
Speaking at auditions in July, he said: "All these crazy things we used to do with themes have gone, no more jukeboxes, none of that rubbish this year.
“The public are smart enough to know what’s real, that’s what we are focusing on this year.”
Why wasn't Simon Cowell on The X Factor a couple of weeks ago?
After Simon's admission to hospital on Friday October 27, following an accident in his London home, he was missing from the Saturday show - with plans to appear on Sunday instead.
Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne's categories, the boys and girls, featured on Saturday 28 October, having originally been planned for Sunday.
However, on Sunday there was no sign of Simon either and Alesha Dixon replaced him on the panel.
A source said: “Doctors told him Simon would be too quick for him to return to work just 48 hours after a serious medical episode.
“So he’s getting so much needed rest and will be watching the X Factor at home with Eric and Lauren.
“Alesha knows what she’s doing and will be a good representative of Simon’s views.”
He has since returned to The X Factor
The new X Factor tour is epic!
SIMON COWELL has revolutionised this year's X Factor tour.
The all-new puts the power back in the audience's hands, as each night our finalists battle it out for fans' votes just like they do on Britain's most exhilarating TV show.
