Best podcasts of the week: Celebrating The X Factor at 20, from the breakout stars to the famous flops

Louis Walsh, Sharon Osbourne, Nicole Scherzinger and Simon Cowell, during the audition stage for the ITV1 talent show, The X Factor in 2016. Photograph: Syco/Thames TV/PA

Picks of the week

Queer the Music
Episodes weekly, widely available
Jake Shears’s podcast about LGBTQ+ bangers is a real gem. First up is You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real), with members of Sylvester’s inner circle giving context to the groundbreaking disco love song. Shears is warm, thoughtful and a good listener as he teams up with Cabaret co-star Self Esteem to talk about queerness and performing live. His guest list for future episodes is strong, with Olly Alexander, Peaches and King Princess coming up. Hannah Verdier