What in your opinion would be the strongest possible line up of finalists talent wise, not necessarily where they finished in voting, since the show began? I know that's a lot of years, but I thought it'd be fun to do. Top 12. I'll go -


Boys: Matt Cardle, Rhydian Roberts, James Arthur.

Girls: Leona Lewis, Rebecca Ferguson, Ella Henderson.

Groups: JLS, District 3, Little Mix.

Overs: Danyl Johnson, Christopher Maloney, Ruth Lorenzo.

Groups, not a lot of choice tbh, though I put D3 in over 1D because their harmonies were flawless. Boys, I put James ahead of Jahmene because of James' diversity. Girls, obvious reasons. Overs, strongest talent wise in my opinion. Danyl Johnson is the best thing to come out of that category and him not winning that year is a travesty when you go back and listen to the guy.

I snickered when you put Baloney.

Picking from series 5 onwards (since that's when I started watching), I have the following:

Boys: Joe McElderry, Matt Cardle, James Arthur, (WC) Aiden Grimshaw.

Girls: Leona Lewis (yes she's S3 but I've heard of her before I've heard of the show she came from), Alexandra Burke, Cher Lloyd, (WC) Diana Vickers or Rebecca Ferguson.

Groups: JLS, One Direction, Little Mix, (WC) *tbh none, but if I have to choose* Jedward (at least they're fun).

Overs: Olly Murs, Mary Byrne, Ruth Lorenzo, (WC) Kitty Brucknell.

Boy:James Arthur,Craig Colton,Eoghan Quig(couldnt think of anyone else )
Girls:Laura White,Rebecca Ferguson.,Ella Henderson
Groups:JLS and Miss Frank and District3
Overs:Olly Murs,Danyl Johnson and Ruth Lorenzo

Boys: James Arthur, Jahmene Douglas and Joe Mcelderry
Girls: Alexandra Burke, Leona Lewis and Rebecca Ferguson
Groups: Little Mix, Miss Frank and 1D
Overs: Olly Murs, Danyl Johnson and Ruth Lorenzo

Boys: Matt Cardle, Rhydian Roberts, James Arthur.

Girls: Leona Lewis, Rebecca Ferguson, Laura White (I'd personally put Lucy Spraggan in there though...)

Groups: JLS, One Direction, Little Mix.

Overs: Olly Murs, Maria Lawson, Ruth Lorenzo.

I pretty much stole your list and made a few changes

Not including anyone this year
Boys: Jahmene Douglas, James Arthur and Rhydian Roberts

Girls: Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, Rebecca Ferguson

Groups: Miss Frank, JLS, G4

Overs: Brenda Edwards , Danyl Johnson, Maria Lawson

OH YEAH Miss Frank I totally forgot about them

Will have to think about this

Boys: Joe, Rhydian and Ray (though I like Shayne too)

Girls; Leona, Alexandra, Cassie (series 1)

Groups: JLS, Eton Road, the only other group I've really liked are the McDonalds

Overs, Rowetta, Jamie Afro, Ruth

Boys: Aiden Grimshaw, Matt Cardle and Tabby Callaghan

Girls: Stacey Solomon, Leona Lewis and Janet Devlin

Groups: Little Mix <3, JLS and Same Difference (Cheezy but loved them)

Overs: Ruth Lorenzo, Kitty Brucknell and Rowetta

Boys: Shayne Ward, Austin Drage, Matt Cardle

Girls: Leona Lewis, Tamera Foster, Alexandra Burke

Groups: One Direction, Little Mix, JLS

Overs: Olly Murs, Maria Lawson, Ruth Lorenzo


SLAYAGE. Woop woop!

Okay, Rhydian. Really ?

Agree on the girls.

JLS are pure cheese and who the hell are District 3 ?

Chris Maloney has to be the poorest choice in this line up. He was never more than a cruise ship act and imo, only 2 steps up the ladder from Rylan. Yuk.

Girls: Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, Rebecca Ferguson
Boys: Paije Richardson, James Arthur, Matt Cardle
Overs: Brenda Edwards, Maria Lawson, Olly Murs
Groups: JLS, Miss Frank, Little Mix

Yes really, one of the best singers ever to appear on the show. And one of the only singers who still won the public over despite not being a 'pop' singer and getting the 'pantomine villain' tag.

Girls - Diana Vickers, Cher Lloyd, Sophie Habibis
Boys - Aiden Grimshaw, James Arthur, Austin Drage
Groups - Little Mix, One Direction, Miss Frank
Overs - Ruth Lorenzo, Jamie Afro , Kitty Brucknill.

Girls: Rebecca Ferguson, Diana Vickers, Ella H
Boys: Austin, Aiden, Paije
overs : Olly, Ruth, Jamie Afro
Groups: little mix, JLS, one direction

Girls: Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, Diana Vickers
Boys: James Arthur, Aiden Grimshaw, Shayne Ward
Overs: Olly Murs, Ruth Lorenzo, Jamie Archer
Groups: One Direction, District3, Little Mix

Struggled with the overs if i'm honest

Boys: James Arthur, Matt Cardle and Joe McElderry
Girls: Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke & Rebecca Ferguson
Overs: Ruth Lorenzo, Olly Murrs & Brenda Edwards
Groups: Little Mix, 1D & Jedward

best groups: Little Mix, 1D, JLS and Jedward
best boys: Shane, Joe, Jahmene, James
best girls: Leona, Alexandra, Rebecca, Ella
best overs: Danyl, Olly, Wagner, Melanie (by default)

Best Girls: Leona, DianaVickers, Cher, Amelia, Rebecca.
Boys: Rhydian
Overs: Rowetta
Groups: ?
Can't remember any others I liked!

Boys: James Michael, Matt Cardle,Joe McElderry, Aiden Grimshaw
Girls: Leona Lewis, Rebecca Ferguson, Diana Vickers, Melanie MacCabe
Groups: One Direction, Kingsland Road, Jedward, Little Mix
Overs: Jamie Archer, Ruth Lorenzo, Olly Murs, Mary Byrne.

Boys: The 2010 boys category just as it was (Aiden, Matt, Nicolo.) Wildcard: Rhydian Roberts or Shayne Ward.
Girls: Cher Lloyd, Sophie Habibis, Rebecca Ferguson. Wildcard: Stacy Solomon.
Overs: Ruth Lorenzo, Kitty Brucknell, Maria Lawson. Wildcard: Wagner.
Groups: JLS, Little Mix, G4. Wildcard: Jedward.

Groups- 1D, JLS, D3
Boys- James Arthur, Leon Jackson, Shayne Ward
Girls- Leona Lewis. Stacey Solomon, Rebecca Ferguson
Overs- Ruth Lorenzo, Danyl Johnson, who else? Sam Bailey

Girls - Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, Rebecca Ferguson + Wildcard: Stacey Solomon
Boys - Matt Cardle, James Arthur, Aiden Grimshaw + Wildcard: Paije Richardson
Groups - Little Mix, 1D, JLS + Wildcard: District 3
Overs - Olly Murs, Ruth Lorenzo, Kitty Brucknell + Wildcard: Danyl Johnson

Boys - Austin Drage, Matt Cardle, Shayne Ward
Girls - Laura White, Amelia Lily, Alexandra Burke
Groups - JLS, Little Mix, One Direction
Overs - Ruth Lorenzo, Danyl Johnson, Olly Murs