Lucy on high note as X-Factor's first winning woman
Former EastEnders star Lucy Benjamin tonight became the first woman to win the X-Factor.
Benjamin, who went into the final of the week-long competition as bookies’ favourite, triumphed in a public vote to win X-Factor: Battle of the Stars.
The pregnant actress beat England and Bath rugby player Matt Stevens after performing Donna Summer’s Last Dance and See The Day by Girls Aloud.
Stevens narrowly failed to win over the voting public with his renditions of Frank Sinatra favourites, New York New York and Mack The Knife.
After hearing the result a shocked Benjamin declared: “I love singing.”
She said: “It’s nuts. I can’t believe it.
“It’s just a massive achievement to have gone from not being able to sing a note to winning the show.”
Defeated finalist Stevens said: “I am a little bit disappointed but I guess that’s what the show’s about.”
Benjamin went into the final with odds of 1/2 to win the singing competition, from bookies William Hill, compared to 6/4 for rival Stevens.
Throughout tonight’s final it was clear Benjamin was the judges’ favourite to win the show.
After performing her first song of the night, Last Dance, her mentor Louis Walsh said: “In one week you have gone from contestant to contender. I want you to be the first women to win X Factor.”
Fellow judge Sharon Osbourne said: “You owned that stage you were so confident.”
She even drew rare praise from Simon Cowell who said: “Since I rescued you from elimination earlier in the competition I feel I have become your mentor.
“Round one goes to Lucy Benjamin.”
Benjamin began the competition last Monday as a reluctant contestant protesting that she wanted to be voted off so that she could go home.
But as the week went on her confidence grew after her singing was praised by the judges.
On Monday magician Paul Daniels and his wife Debbie McGee became the first celebrities to be booted off the show.
TV nutritionist Gillian McKeith, the host of You Are What You Eat, followed them on Tuesday and glamour model Michelle Marsh left on Wednesday.
Reality TV veterans Rebecca Loos and James Hewitt were booted off on Thursday, followed by ex-Coronation Street actress Nikki Sanderson on Friday, and the singing chefs – Aldo Zilli, Paul Rankin, Ross Burden and Jean-Christophe Novelli - who were voted off on Saturday.
Last night loudmouth DJ Chris Moyles missed out on a place in the final when he was voted off.
During tonight’s show the celebrities took to the stage for one last time in a joint effort to perform a medley of I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing and Thank You For The Music.
The Chefs topped a run-down of the show’s worst performances for their version Willie Nelson’s All The Girls I’ve Loved Before.
Contestants appeared on the show to raise money for charity.
