SO we made it to the final of this year's X Factor and I have to say I surprisingly enjoyed it.

I don't know why it takes four hours over two nights to decide which of three men are going to be crowned winner – but I guess that's what comes of being the biggest reality TV show and bosses fitting in as many money-spinning advertising breaks as possible.

A few weeks ago I couldn't wait to see the end of the show – with the dodgy singing and bickering from the judges - it was just the same old predictable rubbish.

But step forward Saltburn's James Arthur and all that changed.

He has always been the dark horse of the competition, with teenager Ella Henderson leading the bookies odds for months But the North-East's newest star quietly saw off everyone in his path, surviving a sing-off against the aforementioned 16-year-old a couple of weeks ago to take the crown.

His singing talent cannot be doubted – he is one of the few contestants over the years to take risks and not murder songs in the process – and for that along we must applaud him for his victory.

Many winners, and some runners up for that matter, have fallen off the radar pretty quickly after being predicting big things but I really don't think James Arthur will be joining that unfortunate club any time soon.