'X Factor' winner Matt 'numb with shock'

“It was so shocking that it made me numb straight away and I have not really got the feeling back yet,” he told ITV1’s Daybreak.

“I am still in a bit of a spin about the whole thing.”

He added: “I said to someone earlier ’it will probably sink in next Christmas when I watch somebody else win and I say oh, I did that last year’. It is just crazy.”

Cardle, from Colchester, Essex, paid tribute to Ferguson and to One Direction, the five-piece boy band who were third place runners up.

“She (Ferguson) is literally one of the sweetest girls you could ever ask to meet in your life,” he said.

“She is amazing. One Direction, I feel for them, they worked so hard, so hard for the entire show, they both deserve everything.”

Answering questions on 'Daybreak' later, Cardle said he thought Ferguson was going to win once One Direction had gone out of the contest.

“I thought Rebecca was going to get it, to be honest, once One D went,” he said.

Asked if he thought he was going to get the Christmas Number One, he said: “I really hope so, I really, really hope so.”

Last night Cardle appeared overwhelmed as his name was called out by host Dermot O’Leary.

He said: “I just want to say thanks so much from bottom of my heart and congratulations to everyone who got to this stage because I’m so proud, everybody should be so proud.

“There’s not enough time to thank everyone, thanks to all the judges and especially Dannii.”

Earlier in the show, five-piece boy band One Direction were named as the third place runners up.

Ferguson appeared graceful in defeat, declaring: “I’m so grateful, Matt is amazing, I’m happy I got this far.”

After performing his winner’s single 'When We Collide', he joked: “I hope next time I sing it, I sing it a little bit better than that.”

Dannii Minogue said: “That was incredible.”

Simon Cowell added: “I’ve got to hand it to you Matt, you are one heck of a nice guy, you sang your way to win this show.”

Cardle won high praise from all four judges for his strong performances and “sensational” vocals throughout the competition.

Dressed in neon yellow trousers and a brown shirt, he sang first during the final show initially taking on Katy Perry’s hit 'Firework'.

Louis Walsh said: “This is your time, you’re consistent, you’re versatile, you’ve got a great recording voice, Dannii you’ve done a brilliant job, you could win the show.”

Cowell added: “Apart from the trousers I thought it was absolutely fantastic.”

Following his second performance of the winner’s single, Cheryl Cole said: “You sung that from the depths of your heart.”

Cowell added: “An incredible song, it was your best performance of the whole series.”

Minogue said: “That was absolutely amazing and with a voice like that we’re looking at a true star.”

Mother-of-two Ferguson garnered glowing comments during the show for her version of 'Sweet Dreams' by Eurythmics.

Walsh said: “You’re living proof that nice people can do well in the music business.”

She took to the stage a second time to sing her potential winner’s single 'Distant Dreamer'.

Mentor Cole added: “You’ve been an absolute dream to work with, it’s hard to believe that you’re the same person that came into the first audition, we’ve watched you grow and blossom, the nation has taken you into their hearts.”

One Direction appeared extremely disappointed to crash out of the contest in third place after singing Natalie Imbruglia’s hit Torn.

The group’s mentor Cowell said he was “absolutely gutted” for them, but added: “this is just the beginning for these boys.”

The show opened with all three acts singing 'Never Forget' with Take That.

Each finalist was supported by a star in rallying the troops in their home towns.

Coleen Rooney led the crowd cheering on Ferguson in Liverpool while newly-crowned celebrity Queen Of The Jungle Stacey Solomon was in Essex with a crowd supporting Cardle.

HMV’s spokesman Gennaro Castaldo said Cardle had wide appeal and was a credible performer.

He said: “With his distinctive voice and down-to-earth blokeiness, the key to Matt’s success is that he appeals to fans of all ages and backgrounds.”