The winner of The X Factor 2009 is... Joe McElderry
Sunday, 13th December 2009
Geordie teenager Joe McElderry is the new X Factor champion, beating Essex lad Olly Murs to the biggest prize in pop.
In winning the show, clean-cut student Joe landed a one-million-pound recording deal and his new single "The Climb" will be available for download from midnight.
It was one of the most closely fought finals in years as the ballad-king from South Shields took on entertaining call centre worker Olly Murs.
And when his name was announced by Dermot O'Leary, Joe hugged mentor Cheryl Cole and said: "I can't even speak, thank you so much everyone."
Joe had been hot favourite to take Alexandra Burke's Crown for the past few weeks after several stunning live performances on the Saturday night shows.
It was later announced on sister show the X-tra Factor that he had received the most public votes in the four weeks leading up to the final.
Joe followed his amazing duet with pop legend George Michael last night with another performance of "Small Town Girl" this evening - a song he'd impressed judges with earlier in the series.
He got a standing ovation from all four judges before leaving Cheryl Cole in tears of joy with his rendition of the winners' song "The Climb".
She told him: "Whatever happens, Joe, you've been an absolute - not only a pleasure to listen to, a pleasure to work with."
Simon Cowell said he was "gutted for Olly", adding to Joe that he was: "thrilled for you because you're brilliant".
Olly Murs was gracious in defeat, saying that McElderry's performances in the previous weeks meant that he was a worthy winner.
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Photo: ITV
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