9:32pm UK, Sunday December 27, 2009
Joe McElderry has claimed the chart top spot
The X Factor champion missed out on the festive top spot last week when he was beaten by Rage Against The Machine following a high-profile internet campaign.
But the Geordie singer has now hit back by selling more than two-and-a-half times more copies than his US rivals this week.
The British star's single, The Climb, sold 196,000 copies in its second week, compared with 69,000 copies shifted by Rage's Killing In The Name, which slipped to number two.
The South Shields teenager said: "I am so happy that the single is number one.
"Thank you so much to everyone that has supported me.
Rage's Zach de la Rocha
"This had been the best Christmas ever and I want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year."
Lady Gaga's Bad Romance held onto third spot, while Cheryl Cole - McElderry's mentor on X Factor - enjoyed another festive boost as her single, Three Words, climbed from seventh to fourth.
3OH!3, featuring Katie Perry, and Black Eyed Peas took fifth and sixth positions respectively with Starstrukk and Meet Me Halfway.
Journey, Rihanna, Robbie Williams and Kesha completed the top ten.
In the album chart, Canadian crooner Michael Buble was celebrating as Crazy Love replaced Susan Boyle's I Dreamed a Dream as the week's best-seller.
Black Eyed Peas came in at number three, while The Fame by Lady Gaga held on to fourth spot.
JLS' debut album remained at five, ahead of Reality Killed the Video Star, by Robbie Williams.
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10:15pm UK, Sunday December 13, 2009
X Factor champion: Joe McElderry crowned after winning public vote
The hot favourite 18-year-old student from South Shields won the final of the hit ITV1 contest, beating Olly Murs.
His victory topped one of the most lucrative weekends in British broadcasting, with an extended results show creating prime advertising spots in front of an expected audience of 20 million.
The X Factor finalists
McElderry beat 200,000 applicants to The X Factor and more than 10 million public votes were cast.
He hugged his mentor, fellow Geordie Cheryl Cole, and said: "I can't even speak, thank you so much everyone."
He added: "I can't actually speak and I just want to say thank you to Cheryl, she's been an amazing mentor."
He also thanked the other judges and everyone who voted for him.
Cole told him: "I feel over the moon, I'm absolutely delighted. The right person won. I'm so proud of you. The North East are going to be going mad."
Cole: 'Amazing mentor'
McElderry's single, The Climb, will be available for download from midnight and will be in shops on Wednesday, said host Dermot O'Leary.
Simon Cowell told McElderry he was "gutted for Olly" but "thrilled for you because you're brilliant".
It was Cole's second victory in a row, after mentoring Alexandra Burke in last year's competition.
Bookmakers said McElderry was now the red-hot favourite to secure Christmas number one, with Ladbrokes cutting his odds of earning the top spot to 1/8.
In a sign of the show's ability to draw in the world's top stars, Sir Paul McCartney appeared on the final show singing Drive My Car with McElderry, Murs and this year's other 10 X Factor finalists.
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