An enormous peak audience of 19.1 million – an audience share of 62 per cent – watched Joe McElderry win The X Factor final on ITV 1. The whole two-hour show was watched by an average audience of 15.5 million, translating into an audience share of 53 per cent. The Figures also show that the 2009 show has been the most watched ever series of The X Factor, with viewing figures averaging 11.8 million and an average audience share of 45.4 percent share - up almost two million on last year’s series average.
McElderry, who performed with former Wham singer George Michael during the first of two live final shows on Saturday evening, beat rival finalist 25-year-old Olly Murs and won a lucrative recording contract. In Sunday’s finale McElderry performed Journey's Don't stop believing, while Murs, who was mentored by 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. McElderry’s winner single - a cover of American Miley Cyrus's The Climb – will be released on 16 December.
Reports already tipped McElderry to top the British single charts at Christmas, as previous winners of the competition have secured the Christmas top spot for the last four years. The twelve 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.