Delight as a boy band wins X Factor for the first time
RAK-SU thanked their growing army of fans after winning The X Factor 2017.
The singers beat Grace Davies to be crowned winners of the ITV singing competition during last night’s final.
The I’m Feeling You singers looked stunned as host Dermot O’Leary announced they had won the show, before hugging each other and their mentor Simon Cowell.
They are the first boy band to take The X Factor title, and the first ensemble since Little Mix to win the competition.
An emotional Cowell called Rak-Su “gentlemen”, saying: “You are stars.”
He also praised runner-up Davies, saying: “Congratulations to Grace who is really an outstanding, outstanding artist.”
The band’s win capped a star-studded final that included performances from Pink, Sam Smith and Little Mix, who won the competition in 2011.
Rak-Su have now released Dimelo, their winner’s duet with Wyclef Jean and Naughty Boy, which they debuted during Saturday night’s show.
All proceeds from the track are in aid of children’s hospice charities Together For Short Lives and Shooting Star Chase.
As O’Leary approached winning contestant Jamal Shurland after he hugged his bandmates in celebration, the singer said: “Thank you everybody who voted for us,” adding: “I’m speechless, honestly.”
The winners had little time for their victory to sink in because they had to go back on stage.
The band — which comprises Myles Stephenson, Jamal Shurland, Mustafa Rahimtulla and Ashley Fongho — were popular throughout the competition, which was underlined when ITV published the full results from each live show of the 2017 season.
The statistics showed that although Rak-Su and Grace were consistent performers, at times during the run they faced some pretty stiff competition from other acts such as Kevin Davy White, Lloyd Macey and Holly Tandy.