The first episode of the new season of X Factor starts again on Thursday 10 September on Sky and streaming on NOW.

For the third time, Giorgia will be leading the way, a key figure for the singers preparing to take the stage at the Allianz Cloud in Milan. The lineup is new: Paola Iezzi, reigning champion after her triumph with Rob a few months ago, returns, as do Francesco Gabbani and Jake La Furia. Achille Lauro, who led the Sinnai-born artist eroCaddeo, who finished second, leaves, and Irama will replace him. "I feel fortunate to have been welcomed into this great family," said the Carrara-born artist, who rallied 50,000 fans at the San Siro stadium last June. "I'm thrilled to begin this adventure and hope to find an X Factor."

As always, the selection process begins: three evenings of "Auditions" in which contestants must earn at least three yeses to advance to the next stage. Two episodes of "Bootcamp," in which the singers selected in the first round must hope for unanimous approval from the judges or win the magic X Pass card. Finally, the final hurdle, the "Last Calls": three empty seats, gradually filled by aspiring singers, all on the edge until the very last moment.

In the end, the 12 artists will emerge and compete live, week after week, starting on Thursday, October 22nd, on the stage of the Teatro Repower in Milan : the prize is an unreleased song released in collaboration with Warner Music Italy, once again a partner of the program, and the grand finale on Thursday, December 3rd, which after two years in Piazza del Plebiscito in Naples this year returns to Milan, at the Unipol Forum in Assago.

(Unioneonline/D)