X Factor - Leon Jackson is Christmas Number One

27 December 2007 - 'The X Factor' winner Leon Jackson topped the UK Christmas singles chart.

The 18-year-old singer - who beat rival Rhydian Roberts to be crowned winner of the ITV talent show earlier this month - sold 276,000 copies of his single, 'When You Believe' - outselling the rest of the top ten combined.

Leon said: "I'm absolutely over the moon. It's the best Christmas present ever! Having the Christmas number one is an amazing ending to an amazing year and I'm overwhelmed and thrilled."

'When You Believe' - a cover of the 1998 Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey duet - beat Katie Melua's duet 'What a Wonderful World' with the late Eva Cassidy, and former 'X Factor' winner Leona Lewis' 'Bleeding Love' in the singles charts rundown.

Leon also revealed he never would have entered 'The X Factor' if it wasn't for his mother, Wendy, who was there for him throughout the competition.

He told Britain's News of the World newspaper: "I would die for my mother. I looked for her face in the audience before singing every song. And when I sang I kept her face in my mind.

"I did all this for her - to give her so much back is truly fantastic. We are like best friends. I am the person I am today because of my mum. And I know that wherever I am I will always make time to see her."

(C) BANG Media International