The pair battled it out on primetime TV across the weekend to win a lucrative £1m recording contract.

More than 10 million viewers voted in the final show which has dominated television screens this autumn.

It is the second consecutive year that judge Cheryl Cole has mentored the winner. “I can’t even speak,” said McElderry. “Thank you so much.“

Click here for Joe McElderry – The Climb.

The X Factor

Jedward appeared in a dramatic sing-off with Welsh singer Lucie Jones, after the two were voted into the bottom two. After the pair finished their song, Louis supported his act by voting out Lucie Jones, while Dannii & Cheryl Cole both chose to spare Lucie.

It was upto Simon Cowell to make the final decision, and despite their bizarre performance of Rock DJ, he chose to save the twins by going to deadlock.

“Who would I like to see again? I would probably prefer to see the boys again.” To horrified looks from Dannii, Simon continued: “I got a lot of stick for taking it down the public last week and, you know what, I’m going to do it again. I’m going to let the public decide,” he said.

When the studio audience heard the brothers had survived, there was widespread booing and Lucie Jones burst into tears, as she realised her dreams were over. In a jibe at the twins, Dannii said: “I wish all the good singers in this ‘singing’ competition the best of luck. It shouldn’t have happened.“

When the sing-off was announced, Cowell said: “We have to forget the past and make the decision based on the best performance tonight.”

Despite Cowell saying the past was forgotten, and the decision of the judges would be based on the sing-off performance alone, he chickened out of making a decision, insisting the public should have the final say. Well I say Simon, if you feel you can pick and choose when the public should have the final say, and when you as a judge should have the final say, how about we make this competition down to the public all the way through?

Why even have a sing off? Why not go on the phone votes alone? No opportunity for the judges to save anybody. The public decides 100% of the time. I’ll tell you why you wont do that, because you want to have your cake and eat it!!!

Just a few weeks ago, Simon said of the twins: “To be fair, we put them in a competition where it’s a public vote, and we have to live, unfortunately, with the public vote. If they win, it will be a complete and utter disaster. I’d probably sulk for about six months and I’d get on a very fast plane out of the country.”

So did Simon Cowell make the right decision guys and girls? Did Lucie Jones deserve to stay? Leave a comment below…

Simon Cowell

To be fair, its one of his acts, so he was bound to say nice things. He has praised Susan Boyle for the music she is currently recording, ready for her first album.

The judge has been working constantly with the Britains Got Talent super-star, despite her loosing the show. Simon  said: “She sounds fantastic on record. Its not all going to be show tunes. It’s not an obvious record but so far, its good. She’s got a really good recording voice, and im going to take my time. She’s happy and i think she’s enjoying the recording process.“

Meanwhile, Simon Cowell has rubbished reports that he’s planning to quit The X Factor after the next series. “Nothing is going to change, we are going to keep all the partnerships. We get on well with everybody and no one is going to fall out.”

16-year-old Mali Michael McCalla dazzled in last years series of the ITV1 talent show, but was sent home when judges ruled he was one year too young at just 15. Bosses expected the youngster to return and be a huge favourite this years, but the teenager has repeatedly turned them down.

Baffled Simon Cowell went one step further, and begged the Londoner in person last week when he appeared at the auditions to support his dad Noel, who was trying out for the over-25′s category.

But yesterday a friend of Mali said he has joined a new boyband named NSA. They have already been in meetings with top producers in the US and look set to sign a £1million pound recording contract. The friend said: “Its the real deal. He doesn’t want to be associated with reality shows any more.”

X Factor judges Simon Cowell, Cheryl Cole, Louis Walsh and Dannii Minogue return to our screens next month.

Simon Cowell

The two X Factor judges clashed during the third day of London auditions after Simon repeatedly cut her off with sarcastic put-downs as she commented on performers.

Furious Dannii waited until a break in filming and then let rip at him, warning him to stop undermining her in front of everybody. Upon returning to the set, Dannii had moved to sit at the end of the judges line-up.

Dannii usually sits between Cheryl Cole and Louis Walsh, but upon returning from a break, she sat at the end of the table, the furthest point from Simon Cowell. Sources from the auditions said: “Simon was in an impatient mood and kept interrupting Dannii with very sarcastic remarks when she tried to give her opinion on acts.“

“She tried to keep calm, but before long, it all became too much for her to handle and she turned on him during one of the breaks. Dannii isn’t afraid to stick up for herself, especially after all the abuse she has received at the hands of Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh, so she basically told Simon to lay off. She wanted to make it clear that she would not tolerate any kind of sniping, even from the shows boss.“

It is currently unknown whether producers of The X Factor will permanently seat Dannii at the end of the judges lineup, but an X Factor spokeswoman added: “Its not uncommon for judges to swap places during filming.”

A spokesman for Dannii Minogue said that she had already moved seats before the row had erupted. Meanwhile, it has been revealed the new format with live studio audiences is slowing filming of the ITV talent show ‘considerably’.