Past X Factor Winners: where are they now?

A look back at all of the show's winners since 2004, and where they have ended up

2004 winner Steve Brookstein

Brookstein was dropped by SonyBMG and wrote a book about his ill treatment at the hands of Simon Cowell and the show. He continues to pick fights with fairly tasteless comments on Twitter.

2005 winner Shayne Ward

Ward was dropped by Syco in 2011, but went on to appear in Dancing on Ice and Coronation Street....

2006 winner Leona Lewis

Lewis is the most well-known of the former winners. She's topped the charts, sells out arenas, recorded the theme song for Avatar and went on many, many world tours. She's very rich, and her cover of Snow Patrol has largely eclipsed the original. Good for her.

2007 winner Leon Jackson

Syco dropped Jackson, and he was voted the second biggest reality TV flop, second only to Brookstein. Impressive.

2008 winner Alexandra Burke

Burke bagged a �3.5m, five-album US deal with Epic records. Safe to say, she's doing alright for herself.

2009 winner Joe McElderry

McElderry split with Syco mutually, and has since won Popstar to Opera in 2011 and The Jump in 2014. The charts may not love him, but mums certainly do.

2010 winner Matt Cardle

Cardle still records and tours, but his success pales in comparison third-place act One Direction

2011 winner Little Mix

Little Mix are still going strong, having sold over 5 million singles and 2.5 million albums worldwide. They're one of the UK's biggest pop exports, and a guilty pleasure.

2012 winner James Arthur

Arthur was unceremoniously dropped from Syco in 2014, but continues to perform live - despite a run of bizarre headlines a made with controversial, allegedly homophobic comments and some stuff about whales - oh and some creepy sex stories.

2013 winner Sam Bailey

Bailey released an autobiography, but was dropped by Syco earlier this year. It was written in the stars.

2014 winner Ben Haenow

It's too early to tell about Haenow. He was signed by Syco and has spent time in Los Angeles recording his debut album - his singles have got some decent airplay, but can he survive?

2015 winner Louisa Johnson

Tags: X Factor Photo: WENN

With 17-year-old Louisa Johnson crowned the winner of the X Factor 2015, she is now a strong contender for the Christmas No.1 with her cover of Bob Dylan's track 'Forever Young'. She was the bookmakers' favourite to win the TV talent show, and she will hope to capitalise on her exposure well beyond the festive season. But will she eventually suffer the rather sad fate of many of the other previous winners? How's their net worth looking?

Here, we take a look back at all of the show's previous winners and what they are up to now. How many of the X Factor winners have subsequently been dropped by record label Syco? Who had a spat with Simon Cowell? How many have written autobiographies about their experiences? And, more postively, who has gone on to critical acclaim and success?

Leona Lewis has clearly been one of the biggest success stories with a string of top 40 singles. But very few contestants have had No.1 singles beyond their first winner's track. And it is only Lewis, Alexandra Burke and Little Mix have topped the chart more than once.

Past X Factor Winners: where are they now?

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