X-Factor winner Matt Terry has Spanish connections

The starry-eyed 23-year-old Matt Terry who beat Saara Aalto to become the 13th winner of The X-Factor, has Spanish connections, it has emerged.

During the competition he quickly became the fans’ clear favourite, landing in the bottom two only twice during the run of the live shows.

Terry captured the hearts of viewers starting with his very first audition, when he dazzled the judges with his rendition of Ben E. King’s Stand by Me.

His mentor, former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger said on meeting him: “I think you’re so beautiful, I mean look at those eyes. And you have amazing talent. My concern is, is it enough for me…Is that unique enough?”

Any hesitation she might have had was soon allayed by Terry’s charisma and popularity with the audience. He consistently finished towards the top of the fan voting over the course of the competition.

Although he worked as a waiter in Bromley, where he currently lives, it turns out he spent a good deal of his teenage years living in Spain, where his grandparents still live today.

In fact, his grandparents flew over to support him as he blazed his way to victory, with his Gran calling herself Simon Cowell’s “biggest fan”.