Scottish crooner Leon Jackson has won the fourth series of ITV talent search the X Factor.
Scottish crooner Leon Jackson has won the fourth series of ITV talent search the X Factor.
"It's not real," said the stunned 18-year-old as he took the prize of a £1 million recording contract. "Thank you for everybody who voted."
"It's not real," said the stunned 18-year-old as he took the prize of a £1 million recording contract. "Thank you for everybody who voted."
Second place went to Welsh tenor Rhydian Roberts, while sibling act Same Difference came third.
Second place went to Welsh tenor Rhydian Roberts, while sibling act Same Difference came third.
More than 12 million people tuned in to see him take the reality show title, initial overnight figures suggest.
My birthday's just after Christmas, and this is probably the best birthdayand Christmas present I've had in my whole life Leon Jackson That beats the audience for last year's final - when 10.8 million watched Leona Lewis beat Ray Quinn.
Leon's single - a rewritten version of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston's When You Believe - is out on Monday.
Leon's single - a rewritten version of Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston's When You Believe - is out on Monday.
He is likely to scoop the coveted Christmas number one next week, following in the footsteps of the last two X Factor winners, Shayne Ward and Leona Lewis.
It is likely to take the coveted Christmas number one spot, following in the footsteps of the last two X Factor winners, Shayne Ward and Leona Lewis.
Shock win
Shock win
Leon, from West Lothian, was a 6/1 outsider going into the final, with Rhydian the 1/3 favourite.
Leon, from West Lothian, was a 6/1 outsider going into the final, with Rhydian the 1/3 favourite.
FINAL SHOW SONG CHOICES RHYDIAN (pictured) Christmas song: O Holy Night Duet: You Raise Me Up (with Katherine Jenkins)Favourite song: Somewhere
FINAL SHOW SONG CHOICES RHYDIAN (pictured) Christmas song: O Holy Night Duet: You Raise Me Up (with Katherine Jenkins)Favourite song: Somewhere
LEON Christmas song: White ChristmasDuet: Better The Devil You Know (with Kylie)Favourite song: You Don't Know Me
LEON Christmas song: White ChristmasDuet: Better The Devil You Know (with Kylie)Favourite song: You Don't Know Me
SAME DIFFERENCE Christmas song: All I Want For Christmas Is YouDuet: Any Dream Will Do (with Jason Donovan)Favourite song: Breaking Free "Leon's win is the biggest shock in the history of reality TV betting," said Ladbrokes spokesman, Nick Weinberg.
SAME DIFFERENCE Christmas song: All I Want For Christmas Is YouDuet: Any Dream Will Do (with Jason Donovan)Favourite song: Breaking Free "Leon's win is the biggest shock in the history of reality TV betting," said Ladbrokes spokesman, Nick Weinberg.
"He saved us from a bumper payout. He'll definitely be top of our Christmas card list."
"He saved us from a bumper payout. He'll definitely be top of our Christmas card list."
After performing When You Believe at the end of the X Factor, Leon burst into tears.
After performing When You Believe at the end of the X Factor, Leon burst into tears.
"I decided to pursue this because I loved singing," he told host Dermot O'Leary.
"I decided to pursue this because I loved singing," he told host Dermot O'Leary.
"Then, as it went along, I knew I could potentially change my mum's life and I've just done it."
"Then, as it went along, I knew I could potentially change my mum's life and I've just done it."
The singer's mentor, Dannii Minogue, said she "cannot wait to see" what Leon would do with his recording career.
The singer's mentor, Dannii Minogue, said she "cannot wait to see" what Leon would do with his recording career.
Runner-up Rhydian took his loss on the chin, saying: "Some things are meant to be in life and I can't complain."
Runner-up Rhydian took his loss on the chin, saying: "Some things are meant to be in life and I can't complain."
Live final
Live final
Same Difference were first on stage for the live final, performing Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You surrounded by dancers dressed as Santa's elves.
Same Difference were first on stage for the live final, performing Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You surrounded by dancers dressed as Santa's elves.
The show also saw Jason Donovan, Kylie Minogue and opera star Katherine Jenkins duetting with the contestants.
The show also saw Jason Donovan, Kylie Minogue and opera star Katherine Jenkins duetting with the contestants.
Sean and Sarah Smith, aka Same Difference, hail from PortsmouthLeon cavorted with Minogue in front of a red grand piano as the pair performed a jazzed-up version of her 1990 single Better The Devil You Know.
Sean and Sarah Smith, aka Same Difference, hail from PortsmouthLeon cavorted with Minogue in front of a red grand piano as the pair performed a jazzed-up version of her 1990 single Better The Devil You Know.
In addition to the duets, each contestant sang a Christmas song and their favourite number from the competition so far.
In addition to the duets, each contestant sang a Christmas song and their favourite number from the competition so far.
A "supergroup" made up of failed auditionees from the show's early stages also performed a version of Whitney Houston's One Moment In Time.
A "supergroup" made up of failed auditionees from the show's early stages also performed a version of Whitney Houston's One Moment In Time.
Same Difference, who had become popular with viewers thanks to their cheerful performances and cheesy costumes, took third place earlier in the evening.
Same Difference, who had become popular with viewers thanks to their cheerful performances and cheesy costumes, took third place earlier in the evening.
"They are genuinely nice people and I am really gutted for them," said their mentor, Simon Cowell, after the decision was revealed.
"They are genuinely nice people and I am really gutted for them," said their mentor, Simon Cowell, after the decision was revealed.
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