The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
X Factor win for Rak-Su
First boy band to take the talent show title
Rak-Su have thanked fans after winning the X Factor 2017, saying: “We flipping did it.”
The singers beat Grace Davies to be crowned winners of the ITV singing competition during last night’s final.
Shortly afterwards they posted a photograph of themselves in a huddle on Instagram, writing: “We love you all.”
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.
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 X Factor themselves in 2011.
As host Dermot O’Leary approached winning contestant Jamal Shurland after he hugged his bandmates in celebration, the budding star gushed: “Thank you everybody who voted for us,” before admitting: “I’m speechless, honestly.”
Perhaps getting a taste of their immediate future, they soon found themselves in the company of star producers and musicians Wyclef Jean and Naughty Boy, as they performed their new Latin-tinged single Dimelo.
All proceeds from the track are in aid of children’s hospice charities Together For Short Lives and Shooting Star Chase.
As the elated winners put on their best coordinated moves, Wyclef shimmied his way onto the stage, performing a rap before dancing with Rak-Su – and the rest of the X Factor finalists, who crowded the stage as golden confetti rained down on them.
The band, which comprises Myles Stephenson, Jamal Shurland, Mustafa Rahimtulla and Ashley Fongho, thanked their family and friends for their support on hearing the news, while their mentor, Simon, was delighted for the “gentlemen”.