"Sweet Rebecca Ferguson is Runner-Up in X Factor Final"

Liverpool mum-of-two comes 2nd in contest

Rebecca Ferguson came 2nd on The X Factor

The X Factor 2010 was won by Colchester's Matt Cardle tonight but Rebecca Ferguson was a worthy runner-up.

Mum-of-two Rebecca, 24, was delighted that she got to duet with Christina Aguilera on Saturday night.

The shy singer, who sang with her eyes on the floor when she first auditioned, has been transformed into a confident and polished performer.

Louis Walsh is as big a fan as mentor Cheryl Cole and Rebecca is loved as one of the nicest contestants ever.

'With people from the house slagging me off, there was nowhere I could drop my guard,' Katie Waissel revealed.

'There were two people I liked and trusted: Mary and Rebecca. They are the loveliest people.'

One Direction - teenagers Harry Styles, 16, Niall Horan, 17,
Louis Tomlinson, 18, Liam Payne, 17, and Zayn Malik, 17 - were placed
third in the contest.