Series 3 of The X Factor premiered on August 19, 2006 and concluded on December 16, 2006 on ITV. It was won by 21-year old R&B singer Leona Lewis who was part of the 16-24s category mentored by Simon Cowell. She was the first female to win the show and this was Cowell's second win as a mentor in three years. This series was watched by an average of 8.27 million viewers - nearly half a million less than the previous year.