Who is Shan Ako? X Factor 2018 star from Croydon who left the show in Big Band week

SHAN Ako was one of the favourites to win The X Factor 2018 before her shock elimination in Big Band Week.

Here's everything you need to know about the singer.

Who is Shan Ako?

Shan Ako is a 25-year-old session singer from Croydon.

She impressed The X Factor judges in her audition with a rendition of The Greatest Showman hit Never Enough.

With four big yeses, Shan sailed through to the next round and later made it through to the live shows.

She was eliminated from the competition on November 18, after ending up in the bottom two with Acacia and Aaliyah during Big Band Week.

Who are this year's X Factor judges?

The judging panel for the fifteenth series of the show has seen a major overhaul.

Simon Cowell remains but all three other judges have been replaced.

That means that Nicole Scherzinger, Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne are no longer on the panel.

Instead, they have been replaced by Louis Tomlinson, Robbie Williams and his wife Ayda Field.

When is The X Factor 2018 on?

New episodes of The X Factor air every Saturday and Sunday on ITV.

It usually starts around 8pm although the time can vary from week to week.

Last year's contest was won by Rak-Su who triumphed in the final over Grace Davies.

Following the first auditions, the Six Chair Challenge and the Judges' Houses, the live shows kicked off on Saturday, October 20.