The X Factor winners and losers: Where are they now?

Prison guard Sam Bailey triumphed over teenager Nicholas McDonald. Credit: ITV/The X Factor

It is The X Factor final weekend and Fleur East, Ben Haenow and Andrea Faustini will battle it out for the crown on Saturday night.

But winning the competition does not guarantee fame and fortune, as some previous winners have found out.

This year X Factor reject Jake Quickenden has already become a star despite being kicked off the show way before the final.

X Factor reject Jake Quickenden has already come second in I'm A Celebrity this year. Credit: ITV/I'm A Celebrity

After the show Quickenden went into the jungle for I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! and came in second.

We take a look back at the previous winners and losers of The X Factor and see what they are up to now.

Series 10 - 2013

  • Winner - Sam Bailey

Prison guard Sam Bailey triumphed over teenager Nicholas McDonald. Credit: ITV/The X Factor

Prison guard Sam Bailey triumphed over teenager Nicholas McDonald to be named The X Factor winner last year.

Since the show Bailey has given birth to a daughter and had the first X Factor Christmas No 1 in three years with her debut single Skyscraper.

"I still feel like I'm in a bit of a bubble, when you leave the competition it can be daunting but you have to take everyday as it comes," she told UTV.

Series 9 - 2012

  • Winner: James Arthur

Things have not gone according to plan for James Arthur. Credit: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Things have not gone according to plan for James Arthur, despite his debut single Impossible becoming the fast-selling X Factor single ever his career has stalled.

Arthur became embroiled in a homophobia row and ended up apologising for his language after he used the word "queer" in rap which drew criticism from figures such as Matt Lucas.

He was also involved in a row with fellow X Factor contestant Lucy Spraggan after she posted text messages online which he had sent to her and subsequently had a "mutual parting with Simon Cowell's record label Syco.

  • The real winner: Rylan Clarke

Rylan Clarke has come out a winner from his X Factor experience. Credit: Ryan Phillips/EMPICS Entertainment

Despite placing fifth place and facing the wrath of then-judge Gary Barlow, Rylan Clarke has become a successful television personality and even won Celebrity Big Brother.

He has gone on to present on This Morning and host the spin-off show Big Brother's Big Mouth.

Series 8 - 2011

  • Winner: Little Mix

Little Mix were created on the show and became the first band to win the competition.

Their winner's single Cannonball became the fastest selling single of 2011. In June 2013 the band's album, DNA, became the highest debut ever for a British female group's first album, entering at No. 4.

It eclipsed a 16-year-old record previously held by the Spice Girls' Spice album.

Series 7 - 2010

  • Winner: Matt Cardle

It's fair to say Matt Cardle has not reached the dizzying career heights of 1D. Credit: John Rahim/EMPICS Entertainment

Matt Cardle beat off competition from Rebecca Ferguson and One Direction to take the crown.

The former painter and decorator took the Christmas No. 1 spot with his first single, but his career seems to have stalled.

  • The real winner: One Direction

What can you say about 1D's Cinderella story? One of the show's biggest successes they finished third in the competition.

Their latest single hit the No. 1 spot in 85 countries, their tours sell out in minutes and even the US loves them.

Series 6 - 2009

  • Winner: Joe McElderry

In a similar journey to Alexandra Burke before him Joe McElderry took two runs to make it on the X Factor. He made it to Boot Camp in 2007, but felt he was too young opted to walk away.

He returned in 2009 and was mentored by Cheryl Cole, making it through to the final to beat Olly Murs to the title.

His duet with Carrie Underwood was nominated for a Golden Globe after it featured on the film The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader.

McElderry parted ways with Syco in 2011. He continues to write and release music and won another competition - taking the top spot on Channel 4's The Jump.

  • The real winner: Olly Murs

Olly Murs may have lost the crown to McElderry but he signed a joint deal with Syco and Epic Records after the show.

He has released numerous albums, supported One Direction on their US tour and most recently sang with Demi Lovato on the single Up.

Things are still looking very rosy for Murs, who co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Harry Styles' ex Caroline Flack for a while.

Series 5 - 2008

  • Winner: Alexandra Burke

Alexandra Burke first auditioned for the second series of The X Factor in 2005 (which was eventually won by Shayne Ward). She made it through to the final seven in Louis Walshs category, but Louis did not choose her for his final four.

Famously Burke's celebrity duet on the show was with popstar royalty Beyonce - and her reaction to winning the show is the stuff of reality TV legend.

Her version of Leonard Cohen's Halleujah was the Christmas No. 1 in 2008 and she is still working.

  • The real winner: JLS

JLS had many years of success before deciding to call it a day. Credit: Suzan/Suzan/EMPICS Entertainment

Runner-up in the competition was JLS, whose recent split broke the hearts of girls around the country.

They achieved five UK No. 1s and sold more than 10 million records worldwide.

JB, Marvin, Aston and Oritse are all still in the business.

Series 4 - 2007

  • Winner: Leon Jackson

Leon Jackson was mentored by Dannii Minogue on the show. Credit: Doug Peters/Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment

Scottish-born Jackson beat Welsh singer Rhydian Roberts to the title in 2007 but was swiftly dropped by the record company after just one album.

Rhydian however is still touring, releasing albums and even has his own TV talent show on the Welsh channel S4C.

Series 3 - 2006

  • Winner: Leona Lewis

Leona Lewis has sold over 20 million records worldwide and has been nominated for numerous Brit Awards, Grammys and MTV Awards.

Her first two albums reached No. 1 in the UK charts, with her third reaching No. 3.

She is still signed to Cowell's Syco label and - along with One Direction - is definitely one of The X Factor's success stories.

Series 2 - 2005

  • Winner: Shayne Ward

Shayne Ward was dropped by Syco after his third album failed to take off. Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Shayne Ward won the competition in 2005 and released two relatively successful albums.

After his third album failed to take off, Ward was dropped by Syco. Ward continues to write songs and gig and is currently touring with musical War of the Worlds.

  • The real winner: Chico

'It's Chico time' became a national craze - for some. Credit: Yui Mok/PA Wire

Welsh-born Chico Slimani became a hit after reaching the quarter finals, but despite not making to the end of the competition Chico has since had a successful singing and presenting career.

Series 1 - 2004

  • Winner: Steve Brookstein

Steve Brookstein was the first winner of The X Factor. Credit: Andy Butterton/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Steve Brookstein's name has become synonymous with the slippery slope that could await you if you win The X Factor.

He was the first winner of the competition in 2004 and his debut single went straight to No. 1.

Brookstein fell out with Cowell and was reportedly dropped by his record label just eight months later.

He still performs and will be hoping his memoir, Getting Over The X, makes it into the Christmas book charts.

Brookstein's tale is sold as "a story of a man sold down the river by his own record label as they championed the runner-up G4."