The first thing Shayne Ward's mum may have wanted to do immediately after his triumph on reality TV show X Factor was pack some suntan lotion. Saturday's win means the pop sensation's long-held dream of taking her abroad is finally possible.
Watched by an audience of 9.2 million viewers, handsome Shayne wept as he told 48-year-old Philomena, who raised a family of seven in poverty: "This is all for you."
There was no time to kick back and celebrate for the 21-year-old, however - he followed the win with a performance at London's Gay nightclub, and then set about recording his first single That's My Goal for release on Wednesday.
Over on the BBC 10.9 million people were glued to another reality showdown, the final of Strictly Come Dancing. Cricketer Darren Gough pulled off the shock of the evening when he beat presenter Zoe Ball and running ace Colin Jackson to the dancing crown.
At the start of the competition the 14-stone Yorkshireman was the rank outsider, with odds of 25/1 - but he clinched the title with a sizzling disco routine. Darren, who'll swap his sequined suit for cricket whites in March for England's tour of India, is now thinking of opening his own dance studio.
Asked to explain his appeal to the public, he said: "I'm a sportsman, a big bloke, who has suddenly started dancing and I think the public has said, 'Well, if he can do it, I can do it.'"
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
