The winner for ninth series of the UK’s X Factor is James Arthur! Even though this year’s X-Factor finale had the worst ratings since 2005, this doesn’t mean James Arthur will be short-lived, like many of the past X-Factor Winners. Check out the top fun facts about public’s favourite contestant.

  1. His full name is James Andrew Arthur.
  2. He was born on 2nd March 1988.
  3. He was born in Middlesbrough, United Kingdom.
  4. James lives in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, with his mother and sisters.
  5. His mother is Shirley Ashworth and father Neil Arthur.
  6. James’ parents split up when he was two years old, they both settled with a new partner.
  7. Arthur has five siblings in total. An older brother called Neil Arthur, two sisters called Sian and Charlotte Arthur, and two half-sisters Jasmin and Neve Rafferty.
  8. In the past, James has spent some time in foster care and has been homeless.
  9. Arthur has been writing and recording songs since the age of 15.
  10. In 2011, he auditioned for The Voice UK and made it into the final 200 contestants but no further.
  11. For his first X-Factor audition, James Arthur did his own version of Tulisa’s Young.
  12. After the second live show, James had a panic attack and collapsed.
  13. James has got Love and Hate tattooed on his knuckles.
  14. Impossible sold 187,000 in just over 24 hours, which is the fastest-selling track of 2012.
  15. James Arthur once wet the bed on a family holiday after consuming too many ginger beers.
  16. One Direction’s Niall Horan is a huge fan of James Arthur, he tweeted James saying: “Sittin watchin @jamesarthur23 winners story! The guy is a super star! End of“.
  17. James Arthur was in the bottom two in week 7, and is the first contestant that has ever managed to win the show after being in this position.
  18. Impossible didn’t make it as the Christmas Number One, James tweeted that ‘He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother‘ deserved the Xmas Number One.
  19. Although ‘Impossible’ wasn’t Christmas number one this year, it did return to the number one position after Christmas.
  20. On 20th December 2012, James Arthur got his first ever laptop.
  21. He loves to eat at Nandos.
  22. His official Twitter is @JamesArthur23.
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