The first season of X Factor premiered on 6 March 2011 at 20:00 on TVN. The auditions for this season were held in January and February. Jarosław Kuźniar hosts the show and the judges are Czesław Mozil, Maja Sablewska and Kuba Wojewódzki. The series was won by Gienek Loska who was mentored by Czesław Mozil. The second place was taken by Michał Szpak and the third finalist was Ada Szulc.
Filming of the first season began with the first audition with judges and audience on 24 January in Zabrze. The live shows began on 24 April and the finale was broadcast on 5 June.
Selection process
Auditions The first stage of the show were pre-auditions, held in four major cities across Poland. The candidates sang two chosen songs a cappella in the pre-auditions, where they were judged by the show's producers only. The judges didn't take part in pre-auditions and the performances were not filmed for the show at this stage. The candidates who had got through participated in the second stage of the auditions which took place in two cities. At this stage they performed in front of the judges and a live audience. Highlights from these auditions were broadcast on television during the initial programmes of the season.
City Venue Pre-audition Audition Zabrze House of Music and Dance 8 January 2011 24–25 January 2011, 8–9 February 2011 Wrocław Hotel Mercure Panorama 9 January 2011 Warsaw Torwar Hall (Pre-audition) Dramatic Theatre (Audition) 14 January 2011 4–5 February 2011 Gdańsk Baltic Philharmonic 16 January 2011
Viewers could take part in the auditions as members of the audience, by invitation, in Zabrze and Warsaw by sending an SMS.
Bootcamp (10 April) The second stage took place on 13 and 14 February in Warsaw. During the first day a hundred acts performed one chosen song from a list of twelve prepared by the judges. They performed in small groups depending on the song choice. Each contestant got a part to sing. The most popular songs were: You Can Leave Your Hat On by Joe Cocker, Apologize by OneRepublic, Cicho by Ewa Farna, Mercy by Duffy, Śniadanie Do Łóżka by Andrzej Piaseczny, A Night Like This by Caro Emerald and Rihanna’s Only Girl (In the World). Then the judges chose forty acts who got through to the second day of bootcamp. Other sixty contestants had to quit the competition and go home. However three solo girls who applied as soloists were offered to stay in the competition and perform as a group. The new girlband called By Mistake was formed. Remaining forty acts spent the night in a hotel in Warsaw. There they had time to prepare their bootcamp challenge. From the list of ten songs they had to choose one and perform in front of the judges next day. The most sung were: Konstelacje by Pin, Bad Romance by Lady Gaga, Sweet About Me by Gabriella Cilmi, Czas nie będzie czekał by Blue Cafe, and Light My Fire by The Doors. Then the judges made a decision again. They chose only fifteen acts, who got through to the judges' houses stage. After announcing the names, the fifteen lucky acts were divided into three categories, five acts in each. They waited in three rooms for their mentors to come. Eventually Czesław Mozil got the Over-25s, Maja Sablewska was given the Groups and Kuba Wojewódzki was asked to look after the 16-24s.
Judges' houses (17 April) Maja Sablewska was joined by Sebastian Karpiel-Bułecka, who helped her to choose her final three acts. Kuba Wojewódzki invited Alicja Bachleda-Curuś and Czesław Mozil was aided by Monika Brodka.
The six eliminated acts were: 16-24s: Anna Kłys, Ada Styrcz Over-25s: Marta Podulka, Wojciech Strzelecki Groups: De Pe, By Mistake
+ Contestants' performances on the judges' houses Act Song Result Over-25s William Malcolm "We Didn't Start the Fire" Through Małgorzata Stankiewicz "Ostatni" Through Wojciech Strzelecki "Angie" Eliminated Gienek Loska "Since I've Been Loving You" Through Marta Podulka "The Time Is Now" Eliminated Groups Avocado "Wonderful Life" Through By Mistake "Another Way to Die" Eliminated Dziewczyny "It's My Party" Through De Pe "Paparazzi Eliminated Sweet Rebels "Angel" Through 16-24s Michał Szpak "Szczęśliwej drogi już czas" Through Anna Kłys "All by Myself" Eliminated Ada Szulc "Time After Time" Through Ada Styrcz "Roxanne" Eliminated Mats Meguenni "Bed of Roses" Through
Categories and contestants The top 9 contestants was revealed on 17 April 2011.
Key: – Winner – Runner-up – Third Place
Category (mentor) Acts 16-24s (Wojewódzki) Mats Meguenni Ada Szulc Michał Szpak Over-25s (Mozil) Gienek Loska William Malcolm Małgorzata Stankiewicz Groups (Sablewska) Avocado Dziewczyny Sweet Rebels
Live shows
Results table
Contestants' colour key:
| – Czesław Mozil's contestants (over 25s) |- | – Kuba Wojewódzki's contestants (16–24s) |- | – Maja Sablewska's contestants (groups)
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Gienek Loska Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Winner Michał Szpak Safe Safe Safe Safe SafeBottom two Runner-up Ada Szulc Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Safe Third place Małgorzata Stankiewicz Safe Safe Safe SafeBottom twoBottom two Eliminated(Week 6) Dziewczyny Safe Safe SafeBottom twoBottom two Eliminated(Week 5) Mats Meguenni Safe SafeBottom twoBottom two Eliminated(Week 4) Sweet RebelsBottom twoBottom twoBottom two Eliminated(Week 3) William Malcolm SafeBottom two Eliminated(Week 2) AvocadoBottom two Eliminated(Week 1) Bottom two Sweet Rebels,Avocado Sweet Rebels,William Malcolm Sweet Rebels,Mats Meguenni Mats Meguenni,Dziewczyny Dziewczyny,Małgorzata Stankiewicz Małgorzata Stankiewicz,Michał Szpak No final showdown or judges' vote: results are based on public votes alone Wojewódzki's vote to save Sweet Rebels Sweet Rebels Mats Meguenni Mats Meguenni Małgorzata Stankiewicz Michał Szpak Sablewska's vote to save N/A Sweet Rebels Sweet Rebels Dziewczyny Dziewczyny N/A Mozil's vote to save Sweet Rebels William Malcolm Mats Meguenni Dziewczyny Małgorzata Stankiewicz Michał Szpak Eliminated Avocado0 of 2 votes William Malcolm1 of 3 votes Minority Sweet Rebels1 of 3 votes Minority Mats Meguenni1 of 3 votes Minority Dziewczyny1 of 3 votes Minority Małgorzata Stankiewicz0 of 2 votes Ada Szulc15% to win Michał Szpak22% to win Gienek Loska63% to win Sablewska refused to vote as the second one as two of her acts were in bottom two, so Mozil voted instead of her and then she did not have to choose as after two judges' vote there was already a majority. Sablewska was not asked to vote as after other judges' vote there was already a majority.
Live show details
Week 1 (24 April) Theme: The Biggest Hits of All-Time
+ Contestants' performances on the first live show Act Order Song Result William Malcolm 1 "Jesus He Knows Me" Safe Avocado 2 "Freedom" Bottom two Mats Meguenni 3 "Uptown Girl" Safe Małgorzata Stankiewicz 4 "Love Me Tender" Safe Sweet Rebels 5 "Venus" Bottom two Ada Szulc 6 "Don't Stop the Music" Safe Gienek Loska 7 "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" Safe Dziewczyny 8 "Georgia on My Mind" Safe Michał Szpak 9 "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" Safe Final showdown details Sweet Rebels 1 "Holding Out for a Hero" Safe Avocado 2 "Relax" Eliminated
Judge's vote to save Wojewódzki: Sweet Rebels – gave no objective reason; mentioned that he had allergy to avocado Mozil: Sweet Rebels – thought that Sweet Rebels' performances 'mean something', unlike Avocado's performances Sablewska refused to vote as the second so Mozil voted instead of her and then she did not have to make a choice as after two judges' votes there was already a majority
Week 2 (1 May) Theme: Songs from films
+ Contestants' performances on the second live show Act Order Song Result William Malcolm 1 "I'm a Believer" Bottom two Mats Meguenni 2 "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" Safe Sweet Rebels 3 "Mamma Mia" Bottom two Małgorzata Stankiewicz 4 "I Will Always Love You" Safe Michał Szpak 5 "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" Safe Dziewczyny 6 "All That Jazz" Safe Ada Szulc 7 "Love Is All Around" Safe Gienek Loska 8 "Layla" Safe Final showdown details William Malcolm 1 "Hotel California" Eliminated Sweet Rebels 2 "Faith" Safe
Judge's vote to save Sablewska: Sweet Rebels – backed her own act Mozil: William Malcolm – backed his own act Wojewódzki: Sweet rebels – gave no reason
Week 3 (8 May) Theme: Love songs
+ Contestants' performances on the third live show Act Order Song Result Mats Meguenni 1 "Careless Whisper" Bottom two Małgorzata Stankiewicz 2 "The Power of Love" Safe Sweet Rebels 3 "Isn't She Lovely?" Bottom two Michał Szpak 4 "You Are So Beautiful" Safe Gienek Loska 5 "When a Man Loves a Woman" Safe Dziewczyny 6 "Lovefool" Safe Ada Szulc 7 "Fields of Gold" Safe Final showdown details Sweet Rebels 1 "If I Ain't Got You" Eliminated Mats Meguenni 2 "I'm Still Standing" Safe
Judge's vote to save Wojewódzki: Mats Meguenni – backed his own act Sablewska: Sweet rebels – backed her own act Mozil: Mats Meguenni - gave no reason
Week 4 (15 May) Theme: Big Band Group performance: "She Bangs"
+ Contestants' performances on the fourth live show Act Order Song Result Małgorzata Stankiewicz 1 "Fly Me to the Moon" Safe Mats Meguenni 2 "You Know My Name" Bottom two Dziewczyny 3 "Sway" Bottom two Michał Szpak 4 "Fever" Safe Ada Szulc 5 "Feeling Good" Safe Gienek Loska 6 "My Way" Safe Final showdown details Mats Meguenni 1 "It's My Life" Eliminated Dziewczyny 2 "Papaya" Safe
Judge's vote to save Wojewódzki: Mats Meguenni – backed his own act Sablewska: Dziewczyny – backed her own act Mozil: Dziewczyny – based on final showdown performances
Week 5 (22 May) Theme: Number-one hits; Polish songs
+ Contestants' performances on the fifth live show Act Order First song Order Second song Result Dziewczyny1 "Empire State of Mind"6"Szare miraże"Bottom two Małgorzata Stankiewicz2"Un-Break My Heart"7"Aleja gwiazd"Bottom two Ada Szulc3"Rolling in the Deep"8"Pod Papugami"Safe Michał Szpak4"Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word"9"Czas nas uczy pogody"Safe Gienek Loska5"One"10"Niepokonani"Safe Final showdown details Dziewczyny 1 "Brotha" Eliminated Małgorzata Stankiewicz 2 "Im więcej Ciebie, tym mniej" Safe
Judge's vote to save Mozil: Małgorzata Stankiewicz – backed his own act Sablewska: Dziewczyny – backed her own act Wojewódzki: Małgorzata Stankiewicz – stated that he believed Małgorzata Stankiewicz would make the stage bubble
Week 6: Semi-final (29 May) Theme: Biggest Pop music songs
+ Contestants' performances on the sixth live show Act Order First song Order Second song Result Małgorzata Stankiewicz1"Moon River"5"Co mi Panie dasz?"Bottom two Ada Szulc2"The Sound of Silence"6"Ironic"Safe Michał Szpak3"Californication"7"Wspomnienie"Bottom two Gienek Loska4"Hello"8"Wymyśliłem Ciebie"Safe Final showdown details Małgorzata Stankiewicz 1 "Dmuchawce, latawce, wiatr" Eliminated Michał Szpak 2 "Imagine" Safe
Judge's vote to save Wojewódzki: Michał Szpak – backed his own act Mozil: Michał Szpak – based on the final showdown performance Sablewska was not asked to vote as after other judges' votes there was already a majority
Week 7: Final (5 June) Theme: No theme (songs the mentor and contestants believe will get them through the final); celebrity duets Celebrity duet performers: Basia Trzetrzelewska with Ada Szulc Maciej Maleńczuk with Gienek Loska Alexandra Burke with Michał Szpak Group performance: "Billionaire" (performed by all top 9 contestants) Celebrity performers: Alexandra Burke ("Bad Boys")
+ Contestants' performances on the final live show Act Order First song Order Second song (duet) Result Ada Szulc 1 "Fields of Gold" 4 "A Gift" duet with Basia Trzetrzelewska Eliminated Gienek Loska 2 "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" 5 "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover" duet with Maciej Maleńczuk Winner Michał Szpak 3 "You Are So Beautiful" 6 "Hallelujah" duet with Alexandra Burke Runner-up
Ratings