AceShowbiz -

Taking over "The X Factor" crown from Alexandra Burke is 18-year-old singer Joe McElderry who beat 25-year-old Olly Murs in the finale Sunday, December 13. Joe becomes the sixth winner of the talent show and is officially entitled to a recording contract worth 1 million pound sterling.

Joe got two third of the audience votes that reached 10 million in total. According to the show's official site, Joe gathered 61.3 |percent| of the votes, a far comparison to Murs who got 38.7|percent|. Murs called his competition "phenomenal" and said, "I came out there fighting, did the best I could, and the best guy won. Joe deserves it."

Joe himself was too delighted by the victory, saying "I can't even speak. Thank you so much everyone," after he was announced as the winner. His mentor Cheryl Cole also expressed her glee, gushing "I feel over the moon, I'm absolutely delighted. The right person won. I'm so proud of you. The North East are going to be going mad." Cheryl mentored last year's winner Alexandra.

As a champion, Joe was required to sing this year's winning song, "The Climb". The song made popular by Miley Cyrus is tipped to be Christmas Number One like the previous years' winning songs.