TEENAGER JOE McElderry won the sixth series of popular British TV show The X Factorlast night, and is widely tipped to top the Christmas charts with his debut single, a cover of American Miley Cyrus's The Climb.
Bookmakers favourite McElderry, who performed with former Wham singer George Michael during the first of two live final shows, beat rival finalist 25-year-old Olly Murs to secure the X Factor crown and a lucrative recording contract.
The pair, who beat 200,000 other applicants to reach the final show, received more than 10 million votes between them.
Eighteen-year-old student McElderry, from the north of England, performed Journey's Don't stop believingon the final show, while Murs, who was mentored by music mogul and the show's producer Simon Cowell, sang Twist and Shout.
Both also performed the winner’s single in a final bid to win over the public vote, before joining the other 10 finalist acts to sing with former Beatle Paul McCartney.
After the result was announced McElderry jumped up and down screaming as he hugged his mentor, Girls Aloud singer Cheryl Cole.
"I can't even speak," he said. "Thank you so much everyone." Previous winners of the competition, which draws millions of viewers every week, have secured the Christmas top spot in the pop music charts for the last four years. The 12 finalists from this year's show already collectively topped the charts last month with their charity hit version of Michael Jackson's You are not Alone.
More than 10 million public votes were cast during the competition.
It was Cheryl Cole’s second victory in a row. She told him: “I feel over the moon, I’m absolutely delighted. The right person won. I’m so proud of you.
“The northeast are going to be going mad.”
McElderry’s single will be available for download from midnight and will be in shops on Wednesday, host Dermot O’Leary said.
Simon Cowell told McElderry he was “gutted for Olly” but “thrilled for you because you’re brilliant”.
Bookmakers said McElderry was now the red-hot favourite to secure Christmas number one, with Ladbrokes cutting his odds of earning the top spot to 1/8.
Ladbrokes spokesman Nick Weinberg said: “Joe is the toast of fans up and down the country.
“For weeks now he’s looked like the only realistic winner and has justified his billing.
“Christmas chart success is virtually assured.” bookmakers William Hill said it now faced a £1 million payout on McElderry, including £7,000 to his family members.
Spokesman Rupert Adams said: “Cowell has killed us.”
– (Reuters)