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.
- His full name is James Andrew Arthur.
- He was born on 2nd March 1988.
- He was born in Middlesbrough, United Kingdom.
- James lives in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, with his mother and sisters.
- His mother is Shirley Ashworth and father Neil Arthur.
- James’ parents split up when he was two years old, they both settled with a new partner.
- 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.
- In the past, James has spent some time in foster care and has been homeless.
- Arthur has been writing and recording songs since the age of 15.
- In 2011, he auditioned for The Voice UK and made it into the final 200 contestants but no further.
- For his first X-Factor audition, James Arthur did his own version of Tulisa’s Young.
- After the second live show, James had a panic attack and collapsed.
- James has got Love and Hate tattooed on his knuckles.
- Impossible sold 187,000 in just over 24 hours, which is the fastest-selling track of 2012.
- James Arthur once wet the bed on a family holiday after consuming too many ginger beers.
- 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“.
- 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.
- 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.
- Although ‘Impossible’ wasn’t Christmas number one this year, it did return to the number one position after Christmas.
- On 20th December 2012, James Arthur got his first ever laptop.
- He loves to eat at Nandos.
- His official Twitter is @JamesArthur23.