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Leon Jackson said X Factor win was 'best Christmas present ever'

Surprise X Factor winner Leon Jackson has said his victory was "the best Christmas present ever".

The Scotsman triumphed in the final of the reality talent show, beating hot favourite Rhydian Roberts into second place by just one per cent of the popular vote.

A 6/1 outsider going into the final, Leon won the public over with the Bing Crosby classic White Christmas and a show-stopping duet with Kylie Minogue.

After his win, the 18-year-old from West Lothian said tearfully: "It just means the world... I love singing.

"I'm really pleased that I've done my country proud, and been the first Scot winner."

Judge Sharon Osbourne told him he had transformed in the competition from a shy boy to a confident young man.

"I've just won a £1 million record deal and I've just changed me and my mum's life for ever," Leon said.

"I'm stunned, absolutely stunned.

"My birthday's just after Christmas, and this is probably the best birthday and Christmas present I've had in my whole life."

The final pitted nation against nation, with Rhydian representing Wales, Same Difference England and Leon Scotland.

Brother and sister duo Same Difference were the first to go when they were announced as the act with fewest votes, putting them in third place.

The result meant that Dannii Minogue was automatically the winning judge on the ITV1 show, as she mentored both Rhydian and Leon.

Leon performed a duet which saw the Minogues keeping it in the family, with Kylie taking to the stage in a skin-tight black lace outfit as she sang her hit Better The Devil You Know.

The surprise result saved the bookmakers - who had Rhydian 1/3 favourite - from a mammoth payout.

Ladbrokes spokesman Nick Weinberg said: "Leon's win is the biggest shock in the history of reality TV betting."

Leon's proud mum Wendy said: "I think it's absolutely amazing. Every week I've just watched him grow and grow and get better and better and he just blew me away."

After the result was announced Rhydian congratulated Leon and said: "I feel fine. Some things are meant to be in life... I've had a lovely time."

The 24-year-old from Sennybridge, mid-Wales, wore a white suit as he belted out the Christmas carol O, Holy Night.

Rhydian, a student and personal trainer, looked delighted when Dannii Minogue told him: "If you're not doing anything Christmas Day, you can come to the Minogue house and sing that again."

Baritone Rhydian changed into a black velvet jacket to duet with another Welsh classical singer, Katherine Jenkins. The pair performed You Raise Me Up.

His version of Somewhere was described by Simon Cowell as "quite simply brilliant".

Bookmakers had reported a last-minute flurry of bets on Same Difference aka Portsmouth pair Sean and Sarah Smith, aged 21 and 18 respectively to win.

They were first on stage last night, flying through the air on wires as they sang All I Want For Christmas Is You.

They later performed Any Dream Will Do, joined by Jason Donovan.

Judge Louis Walsh has previously questioned why the smiley siblings, known for their cheesy routines, were still in the competition.

But he described their performance last night as "a great, great start to the show".

Some of the unsuccessful wannabes from the auditions also took to the stage to perform Whitney Houston classic One Moment in Time, to laughter and applause from the audience.

Leon is now seen as a shoo-in for the Christmas number one and the bookies have stopped taking bets.