Series 5 of The X Factor premiered on August 16, 2008 and ended on Decemvber 13, 2008 on ITV. It was during auditions that viewers were introduced to 15-year-old Jade Thirlwall, who in Series 8 would form one quarter of the winning act that year, Little Mix. The fifth series also introduced 14-year-old Liam Payne who became a member of successful boy band One Direction, formed in Series 7. It was won by 20-year old R&B singer Alexandra Burke who was part of the Girls category mentored by Cheryl Cole. She had previously made it to Judges' Houses in Series 2 but was sent home by Louis Walsh.