Rak-Su have been crowned the 2017 winner of The X Factor.
The four lads from Watford saw off competition from Grace Davies during the live final from the ExCel in London on Sunday night, and now the band will take on the festive charts with debut single, Dimelo, a duet with Wyclef Jean and Naughty Boy.
Rak-Su, who were mentored by Simon Cowell, took part in a group hug as Dermot O’Leary revealed the news.
‘Congratulations to Grace, and obviously, to you guys, Rak-Su, you are gentlemen, you are stars. And to everyone who voted, thank you,’ said Simon.
The band were overcome with emotion, but thanked the fans and their family for their support.
‘Do you know what, I just want to thank everyone at home, everybody here, all my family who’ve made this experience extra special. I’m speechless,’ said Jamaal.
The winner’s single proceeds will go to children’s hospice charities Together for Short Lives and Shooting Star Chase, who have been chosen to receive the funds from the single; Simon Cowell revealed on Saturday that he had donated £250,000 of his own money to the cause, and asked viewers to continue the contributions in order to get the total to £1 million.
The two finalists had both shaken up the competition by performing original songs regularly throughout the audition process, judges houses, and the live shows.
Saturday night’s final saw group Rak-Su duet with Grammy-award winning rapper Wyclef Jean and Naughty Boy, performing their original track Dimelo. Singer Grace Davies sung with BRIT Award winner Paloma Faith, performing Grace’s original song, Roots.
On Sunday night, the two finalists both sang original songs, with Grace performing Nothing But Words, and Too Young, while Rak-Su sang Touché and Mona Lisa.
Rak-Su had overwhelmingly been favourite to win throughout the series, and on Sunday bookmakers Coral had given the band odds of 1-4.
