Image Credit: Ken McKay/TalkbackThames/Rex/Rex USAMatt Cardle won The X Factor last night in the U.K., topping Rebecca Ferguson, boyband One Direction, and Cher Lloyd. The finale snagged 17.2 million viewers, which is a 55 share, and at its peak, it pulled in more than 19 million viewers, which is a solid 60. It’s the show’s highest-rated finale ever. Somewhere, a Fox executive just soiled themselves: A 55-share is pretty much Super Bowl numbers. This year’s off-its-ratings-game American Idol finale pulled in around 23 million viewers.
The X Factor shares most of its important DNA with American Idol, but one key difference is that each judge mentors a specific group of performers for the entire run — the boys, the girls, the bands, and the people over 28. Matt’s mentor was Dannii Minogue, who presumably coached him through such rad performances as this cover of “Baby One More Time,” which came during Guilty Pleasures week:
But can Cardle cross over from TV star to pop star? Part of Matt’s charm comes from the reality-show backstory — he was a sweet, unassuming painter one day and badass crooner dueting with Rihanna the next. Is he the British Lee DeWyze? Or is he more like Leona Lewis, the X Factor winner who’s seen the most stateside success?
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He kind of reminds me of Kris Allen…anyone agree?
Kinda. He’s much more Idol than he is X-Factor. Rebecca Ferguson was much more the stereotypical X-Factor winner.
Oh, and Matt Giraud, too (huge Matt Giraud fan).
I watched the whole season online on justin.tv every weekend, I find it much more fun and entertaining than american idol has been lately, I really hope the US version can mirror the same successful formula. I don’t agree with the winner tho! Rebecca should have won, Matt really is too much like Lee DeWyze for my taste..
Rebecca definitely had the better voice, but her performances consisted of having her feet nailed to the floor. She’ll be a better recording act, but Matt was the better performer.
I think Rebecca should’ve won too. Matt is great, but he’s too much like Lee DeWyze David Cook, Kris Allen – he’s too generic. Rebecca is unique and so great!
Im super Happy Matt won!!!! he deserves it!!!
If you watch the video of his post-victory performance, you’ll see (or more precisely lip-read) at the end one of the boys from One Direction whisper in his ear “Think of all the p**** this will mean”. Matt’s reaction is priceless.
ML,
Why do you guys worry about spoiling results of American Reality shows from the night before, but not British ones?
Because this show isn’t broadcast on TV in North America, it’s even MORE likely that we need to catch up on the episodes on line.
Spoiler alert, please!
I really hope Simon’s promise to show Matt on the US version of X Factor comes true, because I think he’d actually be really successful in the US. He reminds me of Will Young a little bit; hopefully Simon’s frustration with his act (One Direction aka 5 Biebers) losing won’t get in the way of promoting him like it did with Will…
I haved really enjoyed watching this online, the mentoring really adds to the contest. Matt and Rebecca are both awesome and deserved to win! Listen to him sing ‘First time ever I saw your face’ and tell me it does not affect you.. AMAZING… he and Rebecca could really make it big, even in US (not the only place you have to make it big, you know?)
I don’t think he’ll make it big here. He looks too much like an everyman, or like DeWitz. But ya never know. I really like Dianna Vickers, who was a contestant a few years ago I guess, and am anticipating her U.S. release.
…it’ll be interesting to see how America responds to X-Factor U.S., despite already having American Idol.
another white hunk cougar bait. yawn.
All these talents are becoming the same now. Women and minorities need not apply, you have no chance with the current viewing audience filled with tween girls and housewives.
talent shows*
That’s not true in Britain. Two of the last five X-Factor winners have been black women, and three of the last six runners-up have been black. We’re usually pretty good at picking winners based on talent, not on their ethnic background or gender.
Ever heard of Leona Lewis (X Factor winner 2007) or Alexandra Burke (X Factor winner 2009)?
Incredibly stupid comment.
He will not, but Rebecca however, will….
I was incredibly disappointed to see him win. X-Factor and British pop in general are typically much less cynical so it kind of bums me out to see the show hit by the whole David Cook thing. It’s like pop isn’t taken seriously until a white guy slows it down with an acoustic guitar. All Matt did was sing songs by current pop ladies and each was labeled brilliant because they were “stripped” and “real.” I like to call it boring. American Idol was literally ruined by this (Cook, Allen, DeWyze) and I hate to see this show go down the same route.
So no, he won’t do well here. We have 3 failed Idols like him already. Now Cher Lloyd and Rebecca Ferguson…I’ll be following their careers for sure.
Ummm….not exactly sure how rock is equated with “slowing down” pop music. And failed idols? David Cook is far from failed! His album went platinum in 2 months and he was on tour for almost a year with mostly sold out shows. Check your facts before you go spouting off.
Where did I say rock? Matt sang almost nothing but songs made popular by female pop singers. I’m not quantifying rock as slowed down pop music, I’m simply saying that’s what Matt did. Leave “rock” out of this. What I said was that it’s exhausting to see people praise acoustic performances of pop songs as brilliant just because people are so warped into thinking unadulterated pop can’t be taken seriously. I get a bit miffed seeing people act like Matt brought an “artistic” touch to songs like “When Love Takes Over” just because he drained the fun and charisma out of it.
I have nothing against David Cook. Failed might be a bit extreme, but it’s hard to suggest he’s a major part of American pop culture these days, isn’t it?
This Matt guy is just an ugly white guy like they are – he’s so UK, the ‘pasty factor’ and the UK is very women hating so the women need America but that Rebecca has got her passing for white kids….is that why she thought she would win? She’s got poise like a first lady (Obama’s Michelle factor) but the family package aint there, surely this would count against her in America, even before she opens her mouth with her accent. America just don’t need this – they’ve got so much racial and musical heritage that just isn’t matched by UK lifestyles, identities – which is why UK exports can’t export – they’re just human beings that are like cars with faulty breaks….this xfactor aint really about music whether its an obvious fix or not…..
Well, Cook made if work for him on the show but after Idol, he’s definitely more rock. Didn’t work as well for Kris Allen and Lee is just bringing up the rear.
He is good, but success in the usa will be hard to obtain.
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They won’t even try to launch him here. Now that I think about it, Leona has been the only one who they even attempted to. Alexandra Burke is pretty big stuff but she hasn’t even released a single here yet…this guy has no shot of an American deal. The last three Idol winners have been male and the last 2 X-Factor winners have been too. And none of them are big star. So why do middle aged housewives insist on ruining everything?