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.
Louis Walsh,
Sharon Osbourne and
Simon Cowell all returned for their third series on the judging panel.
Kate Thornton returned to present the main show on
ITV, while
Ben Shephard returned to present spin-off show
The Xtra Factor on
ITV2. After the semi-final on 9 December, Cowell became the winning judge even though the series had not yet finished, as two of his acts,
Ray Quinn and
Leona Lewis, became the two finalists. Lewis won the series on 16 December, with Quinn finishing as runner-up.