tweets support to contestant The 'Someone Like You' singer, who previously backed Rebecca Ferguson back in 2010, called the 16-year-old "incredible" in a Twitter shout-out during the show yesterday (October 13).
She wrote: "Ella Henderson on X Factor is absolutely incredible! I LOVE her!! Good luck xx" But Ella, who has over 200,000 followers on Twitter, has been having plenty of celebrity support. Last night she retweeted praise from Made In Chelsea's Millie Mackintosh, Andy Merry from The Risk, Big Brother's Luke Scrase and former X Factor singer Lloyd Daniels. She wrote: "Thank u everyone for the support last night! It really put a smile on my face! U guys are the best! #lyrics #TeamElla" Ella is considered 200/1 outsider to be eliminated tonight, and remains the clear frontrunner to win the show. Relive her breathtaking performances below.
POP singer Darius Campbell won ITV's Popstar to Operastar contest, beating Bernie Nolan of the Nolan Sisters in a close contest.
Nolan hugged Campbell to congratulate him on his win last night and he said: "I've had a ball, it's been a privilege, I've enjoyed every minute of it, I'm going to carry on with opera."
Then Campbell repeated his performance of Non Piu Andrai from the Marriage of Figaro by Mozart and called out his thanks to the viewers.
After his first rendering of that song earlier in the evening, panel member Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins told him: "It was your usual standard, brilliant."
Designer and critic Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, another panel member, told him: "I think that was you back in form. That was a very cheeky, very sexy, very Darius performance."
Nolan performed Les Filles de Cadix by Delibes and Llewellyn-Bowen told her: "I thought that was absolutely wonderful, I think you are bringing a new audience to opera."
Former Pop Idol contestant Campbell also performed a duet with another panel member, the tenor Rolando Villazon, while Nolan and Jenkins sang Somewhere from West Side Story, prompting the fourth panel member, rock star Meat Loaf, to declare: "Bernie just rocked! Unbelievable!"
Campbell, Nolan, Villazon and Jenkins joined together to sing Brindisi by Verdi from the opera La Traviata.
The biggest national dance competition to ever hit UK TV screens concluded in a nail-biting 90 minute live final on Sky1 HD this Sunday. The ultimate dance off saw six talented dance acts compete against each other to win a life changing cash prize of £100k. It was ten year old street dancer Akai Osei who won over the public and claimed the title of Got To Dance champion 2010.
Ten year old Akai, who has only been dancing for year, wowed the viewers and judges alike with a set of sophisticated moves, including head spins, body popping and backsliding. The audience gave him standing ovations and the judges awarded him three gold stars following both of his performances.
On his win, Akai said, “I can’t believe it, this is amazing. It’s been the best night of my life, I don’t know what I’ll do with the prize money yet, but I definitely want to give some to charity. I haven’t decided which one yet.”
Our Got To Dance judging panel comprises of Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt, Diversity Leader Ashley Banjo and West End star and movie actor Adam Garcia, who said of Akai’s victory:
Ashley Banjo:
“Firstly, he and his family should be so proud. He sums up this competition, he’s not professional, has only been dancing for a year and is only 10 years old and has just got to dance and he beats me hands down!”
Kimberly Wyatt:
“I’m so proud of Akai, he has been on point to the max and I have so much respect for him. I love his confidence. Amazing!”
Adam Garcia:
“He has incredible stage presence and is just born to dance. I’ve always loved what he does, everyone loves what he does. Just incredible.”
Host Davina McCall commented:
“I am so thrilled for Akai, but glad the viewers voted, I couldn’t have picked a winner, all of the finalists are amazing, they have put in such hard work. I’m going to get Akai to teach me some moves now.”
Got To Dance scoured the UK and Ireland, visiting 14 cities and covering thousands of miles to seek out the best dance crews, troupes and solo dancers of all style and ages. From thousands of applicants, almost 100 dancers aged from 4 to 82 auditioned in front of a live audience and the Got To Dance judging panel. The panel then narrowed these acts down to the Final 18 who performed in a series of live semi-final shows competing for the viewers’ votes to go through to Sunday 14 February’s live final.
Acts who competed in the final against Akai were:
Jukebox Juniors, a junior Cardiff based dance troupe, Matthew Koon, a 16 year old contemporary dancer, Glaswegian junior ballet group The Box, ten year old Perthshire contemporary dancer Emily Crow and MJ Latin, a Latin American style dance group from Preston.
So You Think You Can Dance, the BBC's hunt for the UK's best dancer, has been won by 19-year-old Charlie Bruce.
Charlie, from Leicester, won £100,000 and the opportunity to perform on the US version of the show.
She faced competition from just two other finalists, Lizzie Gough and Tommy Franzen, after Robbie White was forced to pull out with a dislocated shoulder.
The final of the BBC One show also featured a live performance by Robbie Williams on his 36th birthday.
Williams, who sang the official Sport Relief single Morning Sun, could not resist showing off some of his own dance moves.
Afterwards, he told the show's host Cat Deeley: "I thought it was a chance to do a medley of all my dance routines."
The final saw each of the contestants perform six routines. In the absence of the injured Robbie White, former contestants who had been voted off in earlier weeks returned for routines in which they were partnered with the competing finalists.
The winner burst into tears when Deeley revealed she had won the most votes from the public and said she would "never forget" the experience.
The teenager said she was "absolutely speechless" at her success and, fighting back tears, added: "Thank you so much. I did it."
Tommy was voted into second place and Lizzie came third.
Arlene Phillips, who joined the show's judging panel following her controversial departure from Strictly Come Dancing, told Charlie: "You have just changed through the night and grown through the series. What you have done tonight is mega, honey, mega."
Fellow judge Nigel Lythgoe praised Charlie's "journey" and said the teenager "grew" throughout the series. He said her trip to Hollywood to perform on the US version of the show was the "chance of a lifetime".
Although So You Think You Can Dance was on its first series for the BBC, its US equivalent - also hosted by Deeley - is hugely successful with viewing figures of 20 million and is about to start a seventh series.
Strictly Come Dancing reached its climax last night as Chris Hollins beat favourite Ricky Whittle. The Telegraph's fashion director Hilary Alexander gives her verdict on the showdown.
It was billed as The Hunk v. The Hobbit, the David and Goliath ballroom battle which would decide the winner of the Strictly Come Dancing title for 2009.
In the end, the result was biblical.
The Glitter Ball trophy went to team "C-Ola", as the perky BBC presenter, Chris Hollins, and his partner Ola Jordan, have become known.
The couple won over the viewers with their combination of crowd-pleasing cheekiness, fun, enthusiasm and good old-fashioned entertainment.
In the first half of the show, Hollins had prophetically quipped: "We might be the underdogs, but every dog has its day."
He and Ola may not have had the sensual polish, the finesse and the fitness of close rivals, Ricky Whittle, the Hollyoaks star, and his partner, Natalie Lowe.
But by the rip-roaring, "sexy swimming" finale to their Charleston, Team C-Ola had the studio audience – and, obviously, the viewers at home – eating out of their hands.
The judges heaped adjective upon superlative to praise the four dances each couple performed. Bruno Tonioli called Chris and Ola's Charleston "a Strictly Come Dancing classic".
Len Goodman pronounced Ricky and Natalie's quickstep "Strictly history". Craig Revel Horwood coined the word "lift-tastic" to describe Ricky's spectacular series of one-arm and two-arm flying lifts in the couple's "show dance".
I had started off this series – 14 weeks, 654 hours of training per couple and 17 dances ago – hoping Ricky would win. But by last night's final, I discovered I really didn't mind who got to grasp the "Glitter Ball". Both couples were fantastic. It's we, the viewers, who are the real winners in this show.
But what a week! Losing 'Wake Up to Wogan' was bad enough. We now have to face up to nine months of Saturday nights without a 'Strictly' fix.
The only thing we, perhaps, have to look forward to, is Ricky's promise to wear a thong if he got into the final.
Could that happen in a Strictly Christmas special? Now that just might make Ola and Natalie's costumes look a little over-dressed.
Natalie White's strategy of riding Russell Hantz's coattails and not playing too aggressively paid off.
The 26-year-old pharmaceutical sales representative from Van Buren, AR claimed Survivor: Samoa's $1 million grand prize during the live portion of last night's finale broadcast from CBS Television Studio in Hollywood, CA.
"It's about having no regrets. You've got to take a big risk to get a big return," said Natalie after her victory was revealed.
"I had to quit my job to do it. So I gave up a wonderful job -- not just a wonderful job, but one that I loved so much... There was a lot at risk for me."
Natalie defeated Russell Hantz, a 36-year-old oil company owner from Dayton, TX, and Mick Trimming, a 33-year-old doctor from Boise, ID who currently resides in Los Angeles, CA, by receiving five of the first seven jury votes Survivor host Jeff Probst revealed. Russell received the other two jury votes that were disclosed. Jeff did not reveal the remaining eighth and ninth votes, which were presumably also for Natalie.
"Her key move in the game was aligning with me," said Russell after Natalie had previously stated her "key move" as orchestrating Erik Cardona's blindside after the merge.
"Okay, maybe I had two key moves then," replied Natalie.
Survivor: Samoa's finale broadcast began on Day 37 at the merged Aiga camp following the elimination of Shannon "Shambo" Waters -- who was ousted when Brett Clouser, a 23-year-old T-shirt designer from Salem, OR who currently resides in Los Angeles, CA, won Individual Immunity for the second consecutive time and staved off certain elimination.
Mick and Jaison Robinson, a 28-year-old law student from Chicago, IL, discussed the possibility of Brett winning Immunity again and immediately targeted Natalie if that were to happen.
"I think Russell will have a hard time voting her off," said Mick to Jaison.
"I think Russell will have an easier time doing a lot of things than you think," replied Jaison.
However they both agreed that Brett would be first, as Jaison was worried the only remaining Galu member could go on an "Immunity run." Russell was aware that Natalie's neck was on the line if Brett won Immunity again.
"You know what's going to happen if he wins the next one? I ain't going to be able to save you," Russell told Natalie.
"Why would I be next?" asked Natalie.
"Because the three guys stay to beat [Brett] in that last challenge," replied Russell.
"Well, that sucks," she said.
"Well we've just got to win," he said.
Natalie then asked point blank if she'd be going home if Brett won the next Immunity Challenge.
"Probably so," answered Russell.
In a confessional, Natalie said her strategy entering the competition was to "play the underdog," "be underestimated" and "just kind of slide through."
"Which I've done. And it's gotten me this far," she added.
The five castaways then arrived for the Immunity Challenge, and before Jeff explained the rules he asked Russell if it was the remaining four Foa Foa against Brett.
"Yes it is. That's what it is," answered Russell.
"It's an individual competition, so it's definitely a motivator," said Brett.
Each castaway would race across a series of obstacles and grab a bag of puzzle pieces before racing back. They then had to climb a steep wall to a platform and use the pieces to solve a puzzle. First person to get it right would win Immunity.
The challenge commenced, and while Russell was able to grab an early lead Brett's puzzle-solving skills helped him in the end and he won Immunity for the third consecutive time.
"To finally see a Foa Foa member go home will be relieving," said Brett in a confessional.
Natalie said she "definitely felt" like her head was on the chopping block. At camp, she talked to Russell
"I'm going to change it," he said.
"Promise me?" she asked.
"I promise you," he said.
Russell then revealed in a confessional why he wanted to keep Natalie around.
"I'm trying to keep Natalie because she's holding onto my coattails," he explained. "Who better to take to the Final 2 than her? There's no way she can beat me in votes."
Brett talked to Jaison about the impending vote.
"Do you guys know what you're doing, or is it up in the air?" Brett asked.
"You always think you know what you're doing but you never actually know what's going to happen," answered Jaison.
In a confessional, Russell called Jaison "the weakest link" and thought Natalie was stronger in helping to beat Brett in the next Immunity Challenge. He also weighed the pros and cons of keeping Jaison or Mick.
"The good thing about keeping Jaison is he can't beat me in the votes, the bad thing about keeping Jaison is he can't beat Brett in the challenge," explained Russell. "The good thing about keeping Mick is he could possibly beat Brett in the challenge, the bad thing about keeping Mick is he might beat me in jury votes."
He approached Jaison about getting rid of Mick, and Jaison agreed.
"I think Russell and I trust each other enough and we're comfortable. When I say this, I mean it. When he says this, he means it," explained Jaison.
However Russell also told Mick that Jaison would be next, and Mick agreed.
"I wish he could stay around. But Natalie's head is much more in the game than Jaison's," said Mick in a confessional. "He shows up, but he's just not really into it at all."
Russell knew that he and Natalie were in control over what transpired at Tribal.
"We're the ones making the decision," he said before approaching Natalie -- who weighed the options.
"They both have goods and bads," said Russell in a confessional. "So now I'm weighing what in the world I'm supposed to do."
Tribal Council then commenced, and the jury -- Erik, Kelly Sharbaugh, Laura Morett, John Fincher, David Ball, Monica Padilla, and Shambo -- entered.
Natalie explained that if they were unable to beat Brett in the next Immunity Challenge, he would certainly get all the jury votes -- so it was a tough decision about whether to keep someone strong to help beat Brett or keep someone that would be easy to beat at the final Tribal.
Jaison added it was especially difficult because there were a few players remaining who "could command a lot of jury votes."
"It makes sense to keep people that can beat him at this last Immunity," said Mick.
Jeff then asked Brett if he had been "sandbagging it" up until that point in the competition, when he seemed to turn on the burners.
"I think the past few challenges have just coincided with certain skills I have and having really nothing to lose is a different frame of mind that I have that the se people don't necessarily have," he added.
Jaison reiterated Brett needed to go as soon as possible to prevent him from getting to the final Tribal.
"If he got there, he'd definitely have an upper hand," said Jaison.
Brett said at this point, it didn't matter how many jury votes he had since he wasn't at the final Tribal yet.
"I've won three challenges in a row, but it doesn't mean anything if I don't win the next one," he said.
Brett, Russell, Natalie and Mick all voted for Jaison -- who became the sixteenth castaway eliminated and eighth member of the jury.
"I'm kind of pissed off at Russell for blindsiding me this way," said Jaison after his ouster.
"For a relationship that you've had since Day 2, you at least let the guy know that he's going home. So I don't think I'd be cheering for Russell this one. I'd root for Brett. Brett's the underdog. He is who we were. We came from nothing to be something and he did pretty much the same thing."
Back at camp, Brett described it as a "miracle" to still be there.
"This is something I didn't really imagine," he said, adding Immunity was his only hope. "My fate is in my own hands."
The next day on the beach, Russell asked Brett if he thought he could beat him if they both made the Final 3 jury vote.
"I don't know," answered Brett. "I think it would be pretty close."
Russell said he'd rather be next to someone who "deserves it more" and Brett agreed, stating he'd "rather go up against someone that's harder to beat and lose" than someone who is easier to beat and win. Russell saw an opening, and struck a deal with Brett.
"What I can promise you is me and you will be in the Top 3," he told him.
"Okay," said Brett.
"If you win it, then you're safe," explained Russell. "If I win it, I'll take you to the Top 3. If you win, you're in the Top 3. We have no doubts. I'm going to do it straight up with you. Deal?"
"Deal," said Brett as they shook hands.
In a confessional, Russell called the deal an "insurance policy" in case Brett were to win Immunity.
"It looks like I'm going to be in the Top 3 no matter what," boasted Russell in a confessional. "If I win this challenge today, I'm 100% positive that the game is mine. I won the $1 million."
They then retrieved some Tree Mail, which informed them they'd be remembering Survivor: Samoa's 16 previously booted castaways via the game's traditional "Fallen Comrades" journey. Once it was complete, the castaways met for the final Immunity Challenge, and Jeff explained the rules.
Each castaway would place a wooden statue on the end of a pole. At regular intervals, another section would be added to the pole -- making it more difficult to keep stable. The last person with his or her statue standing would win Immunity and an automatic bid to plead his or her case in front of the jury.
The challenge commenced. Mick was the first one out, followed by Natalie -- setting up a showdown between Russell and Brett, which was eventually won by Russell.
"This is worth $1 million right now. In my opinion, I just won the game," said Russell in a confessional.
Back at camp, Brett told Mick he was "proud" of himself for making it as far as he did and called Survivor an "awesome experience."
"I failed," he said in a confessional. "I'm pretty certain that I'll be going home tonight. The only thing I have to fall back on is Russell's deal that he made with me that if one of us were to win then we'd take the other person to the final."
The former Foa Foa members discussed their chances at the final Tribal -- as Natalie said she thought Russell would win, and Mick agreed Russell had a "great shot." Russell was also confident, thinking the fact that he beat Brett in the final Immunity Challenge was just what he needed to make his case with the jury.
"I made a promise to Brett," said Russell in a confessional. "But you see, I made a promise to Mick too. Either way I slice it, if I break my promise with somebody I'll be putting them on the jury and they're taking it personal -- they hate me. This is why the game gets tough."
Mick told Natalie he was "skeptic" Brett was going to go that easily and thought something might be up.
"Mick, you're fine," assured Natalie. "You're so paranoid... Do you honestly think any of us want to go against [Brett] on the jury?"
"I wouldn't think so, but Russell's got all these little strange plans and ploys," said Mick.
"No Mick, it's a done deal," assured Natalie again. "You're coming back here tonight, and so am I, and so is Russell."
Russell then approached Brett and explained he had a deal with both him and Mick.
"I wish I was like you when I was your age," gushed Russell.
"I appreciate that," replied Brett.
"The only option we have is Natalie is going to vote you and Mick is going to vote you . If I vote Mick and you vote Mick then it's a 2-2 tie," explained Russell. "Then it's a challenge -- it might be a fire challenge. Do you think you could beat Mick in a fire challenge?"
"Yeah," replied Brett.
In a confessional, Brett said it was "hard to take [Russell's] word 100%."
"All I can do is hope that he's a man of his word," said Brett.
Russell said in a confessional he was solely focused on "jury votes" when deciding between Mick and Brett.
"Mick's a real good guy, I like him a lot," added Russell. "Brett's a good guy too. But I'm playing the game. I'm still strongly considering keeping Brett. May the best man win. That might get me jury votes -- keeping the strongest here."
The penultimate Tribal Council then commenced and the jury entered. Russell said he "definitely" knew it would be him and Brett facing off at the end of the final Immunity Challenge.
"I knew he would be the one that would be there at the end," said Russell. "I put more effort into this challenge then I did into anything in this entire game."
Mick said he "absolutely" knew Brett would be next as soon as Russell won, and added it was a "huge relief." Natalie echoed Mick's statement and Russell said Brett played a great game.
"He deserves to be sitting up there with me," said Russell about Brett. "We're probably the two best up here and you want the best up here to talk in front of the jury. That's just how it should be."
Mick said Russell was making a good point, however he didn't necessarily agree with it because Brett in front of the jury met only one thing -- he would win the $1 million.
"Russell knows strategically it's not a good move to take Brett and put him in front of that jury," added Natalie.
Brett said Mick and Natalie had to be "a little worried" and Jeff asked if Russell would get "respect" from the jury for taking him.
"Oh yeah, most definitely," replied Brett. "By that action, you're showing a sense of confidence in yourself."
However Russell, Natalie and Mick all voted for Brett -- who became the seventeenth castaway eliminated and ninth and final jury member.
"Wow. They did it," said Erik as Brett had his torch snuffed.
"I knew a couple Tribals ago that it was my time to go," said Brett after his outer. "I'm the last Galu member, I'm so proud of that. To get to where I got -- 38 days, one of the Final 4 -- was definitely a testament to will, my hard work and I definitely feel like I went out on my own accord to some degree."
The next morning, Russell, Mick and Natalie toasted to making the Final 3.
"I said from Day 1 that I was going to get here, and here I am," said Russell. "Not only did I get here, I brought two people here that I wanted to be here with me."
Russell told Natalie and Mick that the jury would accuse them of riding his coattails and asked how they would defend themselves -- specifically claiming he was going to call them the "nice guy and nice girl."
"Russell has good points, but he needs to be reminded that he couldn't have done this without us," said Mick. "We just took totally different paths to do it. Some people may say I like your path a little better, here's your vote."
Natalie thought there was "strategy" in Russell boasting that he had the jury in the bag.
"I'm not going to give up," she added. "I'll just explain to the jury I do not work the same way as Russell. That would clearly not have worked for me. The girls that were aggressive, they got eliminated early."
In a confessional, Russell said it would be a "shame" if Natalie or Mick won.
"It wouldn't make any sense to me," he said. "I played this game strategically better than anybody -- maybe in history. I really think this jury is going to put my name down. I accomplished the impossible out here. All by myself and brought a couple of bums with me."
The final Tribal Council then commenced, and the nine jurors entered. Jeff explained that Mick, Russell and Natalie would each make an opening statement before the jury members would have as opportunity to either ask a question or make a statement of their own.
Mick said he came into the game realizing there would be a lot of pressure on him to have more of a "moral leeway" than he was "willing to give" -- and added that temptation only grew at the merge. However he said he still wasn't willing to go outside the parameters he set for himself.
"The fact that I was able to get this far doing that, that was kind of my goal in this and I feel like I accomplished it," he said.
Natalie said there were lots of doubters in her Survivor ability even before she left, and added she decided to go through with it because she wanted to gain confidence and go outside of her comfort zone -- which she felt she did despite it being the hardest thing she had ever done mentally, emotionally or physically.
Not surprisingly, Russell made it clear he was there to win, which he tried to do by making "huge strategic moves" throughout the game -- beginning at Foa Foa and continuing after the merge. He called Laura's ouster the "biggest move of the game" before he turned on John.
"It went like dominoes from there," said Russell, adding defeating Brett was the "most difficult" thing he had to do physically.
"If either one of these outwit me then give them the money. If either one of these outplayed me then give them the game," said Russell about Natalie and Mick. "But you know what? I don't think that they have."
Jaison went first and he gave the Final 3 an opportunity to share information about who they "really are."
Natalie said she's "technically unemployed" since she quit her job to join the show's cast. Russell explained he was a "businessman."
"I opened a business five years ago, struggle for three years and just became successful with the business for two years," added Russell. "This is the first business that I have succeeded with."
Mick said he's $320,000 in debt from medical school. Jaison said he believed all the answers, but pointed out Natalie neglected to reveal she "made a lot of money," Russell was the "wealthiest" in the Final 3, and Mick will get paid very well as a doctor.
"Whatever decision is made, no one is broke," said Jaison. "I think you guys should look for other criteria."
Shambo apologized to America for "dismantling" Galu and questioned that decision. She then called Mick's decision "feckless" and insulted him for not knowing what it meant and called Natalie Russell's "coattail" rider. Natalie disagreed and said it was "intuition" to not play "aggressive" and put a target on her back.
"No way in god's green earth you're getting my vote," said Shambo to Natalie.
Brett asked Mick how he would plan a man date for the two of them and explained it was a way to see how invested Mick was in him as a "human being." Kelly said she disagreed with Natalie being independent.
"It wasn't because I had no fight," argued Natalie. "But I did do things on my own and I'll tell you I got better throughout the game to believe in myself."
Kelly then asked Russell if he was the same in real life as in the game.
"I'm 100% different outside of this game," he answered. "The thing that bothers me is I don't want my kids to think this is how I really am."
Russell added he embraces "honor, integrity and loyalty" outside of game, which Kelly had a hard time believing.
Monica asked Mick why he deserved the win over Natalie and Russell. Mick said he was not really sure what Natalie did along the way except align with Russell, whom he felt was willing to lie and pit people against each other for his own gain. Mick added he felt Russell let his "giant ego" get out of hand and said that wasn't the kind of character that deserved the $1 million.
Russell defended himself by stating his character wasn't in question when Mick and Natalie were using it to get to the Final 3.
"They both didn't mind following the snake," he said.
Dave asked what each thought there current chances were -- as Mick said between 20 and 25%; Natalie between 30 and 40%; and Russell said he initially thought his odds were much higher but now pegged them around 55%.
"It might happen, it might not happen," he said.
Laura asked Russell what he learned about her through the game, and he said he knew she was Galu's "biggest threat" and was also "controlling."
"If it wouldn't have took place like it did, I don't have a doubt in my mind you'd be here right now," he added.
John then asked Mick to give his "hard sell," and Mick said he has a "solid character" and doesn't treat people "like pawns."
"I don't think you could give it to a more stand-up dude. I just don't," said Mick.
He then asked Natalie to defend herself, and she reiterated that she'd been flying under the radar and tried not to play too aggressively.
Erik went last and said Mick did nothing before stating Russell "admittedly played an unethical game."
"The crazy thing about it is you're sitting there and I'm standing here. Did you get to the right place by behaving the wrong way?" asked Erik.
"I've never been in a situation in my entire life where that was the case. But you sit there proud of it."
Erik said while Natalie may be "weak" and "undeserving," that shouldn't be any less admirable than "lying, cheating and stealing" your way to the Final 3.
"You are sitting there and that makes you just as dangerous as any one of those guys there. You would say that you were probably the least deserving of the title of Sole Survivor," said Erik.
"But maybe, just maybe, in an environment filled with arrogance, delusional entitlement, maybe the person who thinks that she's least deserving is probably the most. You've got my vote, I hope you get four more."
The nine jurors were then given a minute to think before casting their votes. The live portion of the broadcast then commenced and Natalie was revealed to be the winner.
During the live reunion show, Jeff pointed out that Russell looked "visibly upset."
"I feel like I played the best strategic game in history, and I'm not the only one who thinks that," replied Russell. "I can guarantee you millions of people probably think the same thing. Natalie, her best move was to jump on my back."
Jeff then quickly polled the jury about whether Russell would have won had he instead chosen to take Jaison and Shambo -- and according to the results, he would have.
"Natalie, all I want is the title of Sole Survivor. I will pay you $10,000 for the title. If Jeff says, 'Russell, you are the Sole Survivor,' and I get it in paper written down -- that I am the Sole Survivor. I want the title," he pleaded.
"Are you asking Natalie to tell you you're a better player?" asked Jeff.
"No, I'm asking Natalie to ask you to tell me that I'm the Sole Survivor," replied Russell.
"I'm going to decline Russell's offer," said Natalie later in the broadcast. "I'm not interested. In order to win the title of Sole Survivor..."
"$100,000," interrupted Russell, upping his offer.
"No," said Natalie.
Jeff later revealed that Russell had won the "Survivor of the Season" text message/cbs.com vote that allowed home viewers to award $100,000 to one of the season's castaways, with Brett and Shambo finishing in the Top 3 with him.
In addition, Jeff also formally confirmed that Survivor's upcoming twentieth season -- which was filmed back-to-back with Survivor: Samoa in Samoa this summer -- will be dubbed Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains and feature "20 of Survivor's greatest castaways."
Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains will premiere February 11, according to Probst.
Russell Ferguson was crowned So You Think You Can Dance's sixth-season champion during last night's live finale broadcast of the Fox reality competition series.
The 20-year-old from Boston, MA claimed the $250,000 grand prize and became the first ever krumper to win the show's title.
"Yeah! Yeah!" yelled Fegruson as he leapt around the stage, took his shirt off, and eventually fell to his knees before standing back up.
"I just want to thank everybody so much. This means everything to me. I've been dreaming of this ever since I was born. I just thank the judges so much for their criticism -- you guys make me better as a person, as a dancer... I want to thank my parents, my mother, my father, my girlfriend's over there, my little brother. I love all y'all."
Ferguson's victory came after he injured himself during a routine earlier in the broadcast. As host Cat Deeley called out the Top 6 finalists to reveal the first elimination, Ferguson was visibly in pain.
"I messed my knee up... I mean my leg up," he said through tears.
"We'll get you some help okay? Have you seen the medic?" asked Deeley, as Ferguson nodded his head "yes."
"Okay. Hang in there one second for me and we'll get you off here as soon as possible," she replied. "It is time for some results."
Later in the broadcast when Ferguson was scheduled to perform a routine with previously eliminated finalist Noelle Marsh, Fox instead aired video footage of when the performance originally aired during the third week of the competition.
"Obviously, as you've seen earlier in the show, Russell has been injured here tonight. But luckily, we have a tape of the original performance," said Deeley.
In addition, video footage from one of Ferguson's Tuesday night routines with fellow Top 6 finalist Kathryn McCormick also aired in place of a live performance due to his injury.
Ferguson was subsequently seated on a stool onstage each time an elimination was revealed, except when Deeley called him out to reveal the winner -- when he walked out on stage with eventual runner-up Jakob Karr.
"When I first auditioned in New Orleans, I never even thought that I would be anywhere near this point," said Karr, a 19-year-old contemporary dancer from Windermere, FL who currently resides in New York, NY, in a video montage before the results were revealed.
"I wish that this could go on forever. I could stay right here in this second for the rest of my life and be so happy."
McCormick, a 19-year-old contemporary dancer from Augusta, GA who currently resides in Burbank, CA, finished third.
"This has been something that I will never forget<' she said after her elimination. "This has been like anything I've ever imagined for myself and I'm so blessed and so thankful that I was able to share it with every one of you."
Ellenore Scott, a 19-year-old contemporary/jazz dancer from Santa Cruz, CA who currently resides in Brooklyn, NY, finished in fourth.
"You can't explain what happens to you on this show unless you're in it," said Scott. "It builds each one of us in a really unique way and it bonds us all together in a way, it's more than amazing -- absolutely more than amazing... I'm so blessed and so happy."
Ashleigh Di Lello, a 26-year-old Latin ballroom dancer from Orem, UT, finished in fifth.
"This entire experience... I'm so grateful to God for giving me a second chance at life to dance, for this show -- the opportunity to get up on this stage and do what I love for all of these weeks. I am so grateful," said Di Lello after her ouster.
Her husband Ryan Di Lello, a 28-year-old ballroom dancer from Springville, UT who currently resides in Orem, UT, finished in sixth.
"To be able to share this with my sweetheart is like a dream come true," he said.
"What I'm going to take is the little things -- the friendships, the warm hearts, the people I'm going to really keep close to me forever. If I have motivated or inspired anybody, I could not ask for anything more. This has just been a dream come true. I'm just so thankful. I'm humble to be here."
In addition, the finale broadcast featured the Top 20 finalists performing different routines from the season, as well as performances by Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, British third-season The X Factor winner Leona Lewis and American Idol eighth-season runner-up Adam Lambert.
Eighteen-year-old Joe McElderry has beaten Olly Murs to win the sixth series of the ITV talent show X Factor.
The pair battled it out on primetime TV across the weekend to win a lucrative £1m recording contract.
More than 10 million viewers voted in the final show of the series, which has dominated TV screens this autumn.
It is the second consecutive year judge Cheryl Cole has mentored the winner. "I can't even speak," said McElderry. "Thank you so much everyone."
"I feel over the moon, I'm absolutely delighted," said Cole, who comes from the same area as McElderry.
"The right person won. I'm so proud of you. The North East are going to be going mad."
"I couldn't believe it," McElderry later told spin-off show ITV2's Xtra Factor. "I feel like I'm floating... I just feel like jelly."
"I've had the best experience of my life."
Runner up Olly Murs, 25, was gracious in defeat, calling his rival "phenomenal".
"I came out there fighting, did the best I could, and the best guy won. Joe deserves it."
Festive hit
Simon Cowell, the show's creator and Murs's mentor, told McElderry he was "gutted for Olly" but "thrilled for you because you're brilliant".
McElderry won almost two-thirds (61.3%) of the votes in the final, compared with just over a third (38.7%) for Murs, according to voting statistics released on The X Factor website.
The student, from South Shields on Tyneside, had been the bookmakers' favourite to win the series.
However, ahead of Sunday's final, judge Cowell insisted "there could be an upset".
After the announcement McElderry performed the Miley Cyrus track The Climb, which will be this year's X Factor single and is widely tipped to be the Christmas number one.
"Christmas chart success is virtually assured," said Ladbrokes' Nick Weinberg, who have cut McElderry's odds of a festive hit to 1/8.
Sunday's high-profile finale included performances from George Michael and Sir Paul McCartney, who was joined by Murs, McElderry and fellow contestants in a rendition of Drive My Car.
The show opened with this year's 12 finalists - including infamous twins John and Edward Grimes - singing Take That's Never Forget.
Also on stage during the two-hour extravaganza were the 2008 X Factor winner Alexandra Burke - who sang with last year's runners up, JLS - and Leona Lewis, who triumphed in the 2006 series and has become a huge star on both sides of the Atlantic.
The final instalment in the contest - which followed Stacey Soloman's departure on Saturday - began with Murs and McElderry performing their favourite song of the series.
Murs performed Twist And Shout, while McElderry - better known for his ballads - gave an upbeat rendition of Don't Stop Believing.
"Geordie Joe - you're got everything: the voice, the attitude, the charm," said judge Louis Walsh. "Small boy, big voice - and a great future."
"You would have a hit record with that song, it was that good," said Cowell.
Both contestants went on to sing their versions of The Climb, but despite admiration for Murs, Walsh maintained McElderry "had the edge", calling it "a note-perfect performance".
Cowell remarked that nerves had led to a shaky start from McElderry, but added he was "brilliant in the last half".
"I can't call this now, I really can't," he said.
Lucrative series
Ahead of the result, an emotional Cole, recalled her own break, in another TV talent show, Popstars: The Rivals.
"I've lived the dream - now I just want to see you live yours," she told McElderry.
This year's X Factor is expected to be extremely lucrative for ITV1.
The series has dominated peaktime viewing on both Saturday and Sunday throughout the autumn.
The 40 ITV1 shows are thought to have brought in more than £75m in advertising, plus revenue from the phone-votes.
One analyst claims the total benefit to ITV is almost £100m, including income from showings on its website itv.com and the ITV2 spin-off show.
But despite the hype that has surrounded this year's show, not all winners in the show's six series have gone on to enjoy global success.
Leon Jackson, who won the competition in 2007, was dropped after his debut album charted at number four in the UK, while Steve Brookstein - the winner of series one - was also dropped eight months into his contract, despite a number one single and album.
Michael Voltaggio was crowned Top Chef: Las Vegas' winner during last night's finale broadcast of the Bravo culinary competition series.
"I'm really exhausted and surprised and happy and sad. I didn't know that you could actually feel every single emotion at the same time," Michael said after his victory.
"It's been a rough road -- it's been a pretty strange process -- but it was worth it. I would do it again because it definitely got me in touch with who I am as a person and who I am as a cook."
The 30-year-old from Frederick, MD who currently resides in Los Angeles, CA claimed Top Chef's sixth-season prize package of $100,000 in seed money to help open a restaurant, a feature in Food & Wine magazine, a showcase at the Annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen; and $100,000 worth of merchandise provided by Macy's.
Michael's brother Bryan Voltaggio, a 33-year-old from Frederick, MD who currently resides in Urbana, MD, finished as the runner-up.
"I'm more proud of the fact that Bryan and I made it all the way to the end than I am about winning the entire competition," said Michael. "It was probably one of the hardest moments of our lives. I wish both of us could win."
"I'm disappointed a little bit in myself," added Bryan. "I set out to win the whole thing, so coming in second place, that's tough. But I'm proud to see my little brother win. I'd rather him than anybody else."
Kevin Gillespie, a 26-year-old from Atlanta, GA, finished third.
"I had a bad day. It just sucks one day ruined it for me," Kevin lamented after his ouster.
"I'm proud of making it this far and I'm proud to lose to people as good as Bryan or Michael. I was the underdog from the very beginning that managed to rise up and show that if you fight really hard you can make it. It just didn't go all the way."
Top Chef: Las Vegas' finale broadcast began with the three remaining finalists traveling to a Napa Valley vineyard, where they were met by host Padma Lakshmi and lead judge Tom Colicchio.
Tom explained that for their final challenge, the finalists would each be cooking a three-course meal. For the first course, the finalists would be cooking with a set of identical mystery ingredients, while for their second course they could cook any dish they wanted with any ingredients found in the kitchen. For the third course, they were required to cook a dessert.
The finalists then each randomly selected two of the 14 previously-eliminated contestants to them for the final challenge -- one on the initial prep day and one on for the actual service day.
Kevin chose Preeti Mistry and Ash Fulk, Bryan picked Ashley Merriman and Jennifer Carroll, and Michael selected Jesse Sandlin and Eli Kirshtein.
"I'm a little jealous of my other two competitors," opined Kevin.
The chefs discovered what mystery ingredients they'd be working with for the first course before getting to work -- which would include three hours of preparation on the first day and three hours of cooking on the second day.
On the morning of the second day, the three finalists were surprised to be visited by their mothers. Tom then revealed that the finalists would also be cooking a fourth course that would be dedicated to their moms and inspired by their favorite childhood dish. The three finalists then started cooking.
Kevin's mom-inspired course was fried chicken skin, tomatoes, and a liquid squash casserole; his course with the mystery ingredients was rockfish in duck fat, roasted matsutake, and roasted crab broth; his chef's choice course was a slow cooked pork belly, roasted broccoli and brussel sprouts, and caramelized ham jus; and his dessert was roasted banana, chocolate bacon mousse, and peanut bacon brittle.
Michael's mom-inspired course was cream of dehydrated broccoli, spot prawn and fried broccoli; his course with the mystery ingredients was a butter poached rockfish, tomato-komba sauce and sweet and sour salad; his chef's choice course was a fennel-scented squab, cassoulet, and textures of mushrooms; and his dessert was a chocolate caramel coulant, and butternut squash ice cream.
Bryan's mom-inspired course was a tuna noodle casserole; his course with the mystery ingredients was a sous vide rockfish, diced matsutake, and meyer lemon jam; his chef's choice course was a venison saddle, brussel sprouts, sunchokes, and maple-glazed carrots; and his dessert was a sheep's milk and white chocolate "dulce de leche" cheesecake, dry caramel, fig sorbet, and poached pear.
The finalists presented their courses to a finale dinner panel which included regular judging panel members Padma, Tom, Food & Wine magazine editor Gail Simmons, and restaurant critic Toby Young as well as chef Douglas Keane, Terlato Wine Group president Bill Terlato, their moms, and restaurateurs Donatella Arpaia, Stephen Starr, Drew Nieporent, and Sam Nazarian.
adma, Gail, Toby and Tom then met the three finalists to critique the final dishes.
Bryan's fish was criticized by Toby for not being bold enough, while his venison was praised by Gail and Tom. Padma complimented Kevin's chicken-skin dish, however Toby and Tom thought the pork wasn't as good as it could have been. Toby thought Michael nailed the matsutake and pickled tomato, and Tom thought all of his dishes were successful. Michael also acknowledged the cake was overcooked and dry.
The judges then began their final deliberation.
Gail thought Kevin's mom-inspired course had the most flavor, while Toby liked Bryan's the best and Tom thought it was too bland and also wasn't a fan of Michael's.
Tom complimented Michael's use of the mystery ingredients was the best, while it was agreed upon Kevin messed up on the mushroom on his dish. Gail thought Bryan's dish had no texture.
Tom and Gail thought Bryan's third dish was flawless, and Toby agreed -- however he didn't think it was as memorable as Michael's, which Gail wasn't a fan of. None of them really cared for Kevin's third dish.
They all knew Michael didn't make his dessert the right way but Gail still liked it, and Toby summed up the day for Kevin.
"I thought Kevin's dish was again disappointing and -- don't get me wrong, I think he's on the fast-track to becoming a culinary superstar -- but he had a bad night," said Toby.
The three finalists were then called back and Michael was revealed as the winner.
Bravo renewed Top Chef for a seventh season in October and subsequently held casting calls in San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, Washington, New York, Dallas, and Los Angeles.
Dating Couple" Meghan Rickey and Cheyne Whitney won The Amazing Race's fifteenth season during last night's finale broadcast of the CBS reality competition series.
"This is absolutely a dream come true," Meghan said after the couple's victory.
"I couldn't have imagined a better race. I've learned so much about Cheyne. He's just such a good friend and such a good person. I know that he's always going to be there for me throughout my entire life."
Meghan, a 23-year-old account executive from San Diego, CA, and Cheyne, a 23-year-old student also from San Diego, were the first team to cross the fifteenth-season's finish line in Las Vegas and claimed the $1 million grand prize.
"The whole experience in itself was life changing," said Cheyne. "And the money isn't even as important as what we got to do together."
"Brothers" Daniel and Samuel McMillen finished second.
"We're completely happy to be here," said Dan. "We wanted to share our story. We wanted to not let our family down just by being who we were, but we just wanted to come out and do this race and finish this race."
"We bicker, we pick at each other. But we know it's not going to matter," added Sam. "At the end of the day we're still brothers, we still love each other."
"Married Couple" Ericka Dunlap and Brian Kleinschmidt finished third.
"I think my family's going to see some things in Brian that they never had an opportunity to see before and I hope they fully accept him for who he is," said Ericka. "This was just a part of our journey. I'm just really grateful that I had him to do it with and I'm really glad that I have him in my life to learn from."
The Amazing Race's finale broadcast began at the previous Pit Stop at Strelecky Ostrov in Prague.
Since Meghan and Cheyne were the first team to arrive at the Pit Stop, they were the first team to depart at 11:10AM. They opened their next clue, which instructed them to fly nearly 6,000 miles to Las Vegas, their final destination on the race.
They found a travel agent and booked a British Airways flight leaving Prague for Vegas at 6:40PM.
"I'm sure we're all going to be on the same flight together," said Meghan, adding the flight would arrive stateside at 2PM the next day.
Meghan and Cheyne were followed by Sam and Dan (12:08PM) and Brian and Ericka (3:15PM) -- and Meghan's assumption was correct as all three teams had the same flight.
The three teams then arrived in Vegas and hailed taxis to take them to the Graceland Wedding Chapel.
Once there an Elvis impersonator handed them their next clue, which instructed them to travel to the Mandalay Bay casino. Brian and Ericka's cab driver took a shortcut and got them to Mandalay Bay first and they were met by a Roadblock.
In this Roadblock, one member from each team would have to rappel down the side of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Once they got to the bottom they would receive their next clue. Ericka decided to do the Roadblock, followed by Cheyne and Sam.
"Our taxi driver sucked," said Dan as he waited at the bottom of the building.
Ericka was the first one down. She and Brian opened their next clue, which told them to travel to The Mirage casino.
"I think the karma is finally going to pay off," said Brian as they hopped into their cab. "We're definitely feeling good, but we're not getting cocky. Anything can happen."
Cheyne then reached the bottom and left for The Mirage with Meghan, followed by Sam and Dan.
"Dang it, I hate being in third place right now," said Sam.
Brian and Ericka were the first to arrive at The Mirage, where they were met by a task in which they would have to join the cast of the Circque du Soleil show Love.
Using bungee cords, one team member had to launch their partner high enough in the air to retrieve a bouquet of flowers. Once they grabbed the entire bouquet, they would hand it over to the flower child -- who would hand them their next clue.
Ericka was attached to the bungee cords, followed by Meghan and Dan. Despite arriving in first, Brian and Ericka quickly lost their lead when she had a hard time getting high enough to retrieve the bouquet.
"It was frustrating because I knew she was trying her hardest," said Brian. "She was just an inch away."
Ericka thought she needed to switch with Brian since he's taller, and he finally seemed to understand once Meghan grabbed the bouquet.
"You want to switch or not?" he asked meekly.
"Yeah, I want to switch!" she replied. "Get me down I want to switch!"
Opening their next clue, Meghan and Cheyne learned they were looking for "the most famous casino in the country of Monaco" and needed to figure out they were looking for the Monte Carlo casino. Unfortunately, the cab driver they asked told them he believed the The Venetian casino was the clue answer.
Back at the Love show, Dan was the next to grab the bouquet -- causing Ericka and Brian to switch roles again and Ericka to launch into an extended meltdown.
Dan and Sam had their cab driver simply follow Meghan and Cheyne, meaning both were now en route to the wrong destination. However on the way to The Venetian, Sam and Dan called the Mandalay Bay to ask what "the most famous casino in the country of Monaco" was and learned the correct Monte Carlo answer.
They asked some people on the street and still couldn't get the right answer. Meanwhile, Ericka finally grabbed the bouquet and they received their next clue. Brian thought he knew the Monte Carlo was the answer and Ericka assured him he was right.
Sam and Dan were the first to reach the Monte Carlo and learned that for their final task, they'd have to count $1 million worth of poker chips from a table containing 84,000 chips of different denominations. When they thought they were finished, a dealer would check their amount before handing them a special chip and their next clue. Sam and Dan took a strategy of collecting only red $1,000 chips.
Meghan and Cheyne finally learned they were looking for the Monte Carlo, however on their way there they got stuck in traffic.
"I think we just lost some time," said Meghan.
Brian and Ericka were the next to arrive at the Monte Carlo and also started with the $1,000 chips. Meghan and Cheyne eventually arrived and began with the $1,000 chips as well, putting them in stacks of 25.
Despite the different start times, all three teams appeared to finish counting their chips within moments of each other and their assigned dealers started checking their totals. Meghan and Cheyne learned they were correct with their first count attempt, however neither Sam and Dan or Brian and Ericka were as lucky.
Opening their next clue, Meghan and Cheyne learned they needed to travel to the "High Roller's Suite" at the MGM Grand Hotel, where singer Wayne Newton would tell them the finish line's location.
Meanwhile, Sam and Dan and Brian and Ericka both re-checked their counts, and while the brothers got it right Brian and Ericka still didn't.
"How does this happen every single time?" a depressed Ericka asked.
Meghan and Cheyne arrived at the suite and were met by Wayne, who sent them to the finish line -- which was at his house. Sam and Dan also met Wayne and he gave them the finish line's destination too -- even though they didn't know his name.
While Meghan and Cheyne were the first at Wayne's ranch, they had a hard time finding the entrance. However it didn't matter, as they were still the first across the finish line.
"This has been such a learning experience," said Meghan. "Every step of the way has been so neat."
"She was one of the strongest competitors in the whole race -- even compared to the guys," said Cheyne about Meghan. "She raced with the best of them."
The Amazing Race's fifteenth season covered eight countries and more than 25,000 miles in 21 days.
Tanya Hutchison of Orange County, CA has been crowned the winner of "She's Got The Look," TV Land's original reality series searching for the next great supermodel -- over 35. Hutchison was announced as the winner on last night's dramatic season finale and has landed a lucrative modeling contract with Wilhelmina Models, Inc. and a fashion spread in SELF Magazine.
"She's Got The Look," is a collaboration with Wilhelmina Models, Inc., which sets out to discover a sophisticated, beautiful and confident woman 35 or older who is destined to become the next great supermodel. Iconic supermodel Kim Alexis, who has graced the covers of more than 500 magazines, hosts "She's Got The Look." Supermodel
Beverly Johnson -- who made history as the first African-American model to appear on the cover of American Vogue -- celebrity stylist Robert Verdi and Wilhelmina president Sean Patterson are featured as regular judges on the series. The series is executive produced by Emmy Award-Winner Allison Grodner ("Big Brother," "Blowout").
In last night's finale, four finalists remained, and they had to put to use everything they've learned throughout the series to make it to the top. The women pitched themselves to the editors of SELF Magazine and then realized their pitch in their ultimate cover girl photo shoot.
"Tanya truly embodies what this competition is all about," states Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land. "Not only is she beautiful but she has also had rich life experiences and has overcome so many obstacles to become the woman that she is today. 'She's Got The Look' is about the whole package, and Tanya has that."
"Tanya not only embodies beauty inside and out, but she is charming beyond belief," states Wilhelmina President Sean Patterson. "The goal of 'She's Got The Look' was to prove to the world that women over 35 who aspire to model would encompass more depth, charm and ultimate beauty than the average model. With Tanya, we found a uniquely beautiful and inspiring woman who will undoubtedly be a success in the modeling industry."
Hutchison is a 45-year-old wife and a mother of five who resides in Orange County, CA. Having begun modeling at a young age, Hutchison is proud to have overcome a life-threatening knife attack that left her scarred internally and externally. After the incident, she began to doubt herself and the price of beauty. She recently found a deeper meaning in her life by committing to missionary work in Africa, where she lectures young women on the importance of empowerment.
TV Land's nationwide search, which included months of online submissions, auditions and regional competitions around the country, resulted in flying 20 contenders to New York City. These semi-finalists were put to the test of expressing themselves and their fashion know-how. Ten finalists were then selected to live in a New York City loft and compete in challenges such as photo shoots, runway competitions and tests on their fashion sense. At the conclusion of the competition, one woman is crowned the ultimate winner.
Last week, TV Land announced that it has renewed the series "She's Got The Look" for a second season. Emmy Award-Winner Allison Grodner will return as executive producer. Premiering in 2009, the second season of "She's Got The Look" will expand from six episodes to eight and will again set out to discover a sophisticated, beautiful and confident woman 35 or older destined for supermodel stardom.
"She's Got The Look" is an Allison Grodner produced exclusively for TV Land. Keith Cox and Sal Maniaci serve as executive producers for TV Land; Sean Patterson and Corey Preston are executive producers from Wilhelmina.
Public school girl Alexandra Evans has been crowned Britain's Next Top Model. The 19-year-old beat her friend, red-head Catherine Thomas, 18, in the final judging session in Cape Town, South Africa.
Evans wowed the judges in the last task, which saw her and Catherine strut their stuff in a catwalk show in front of a packed crowd.
She also wins the chance to front a £100,000 campaign for cosmetics brand Max Factor, as well as a photo shoot (below) that will appear on the front cover of Company magazine in August.
In the early stages of the 12-week competition, Alex had been criticised for her inability to walk like a model but she so impressed one of the panel with her catwalk performance that he said she was better than the professionals.
The winner, from Cranleigh, Surrey, says she will turn to journalism if her modelling dream does not turn out.
But there is little chance of that now that she has bagged the top prize of a contract with modelling agency Models 1, who also represent Twiggy, Linda Evangelista and Amber Valletta.
A thrilled and shocked Alex said: 'Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I could achieve anything like this... but now I have proved myself wrong.'
Judge Lisa Snowdon was full of praise for the winner, saying: 'This girl blossomed before my eyes.
'She's always been one of the most interesting girls. She's very special looking and all her pictures are fierce - the fashion world is her oyster.'
Curvy brunette Stefanie Wilson, 22, who the judges had earlier criticised for being 'too Playboy', was the first to be kicked off the last round of the show.
Broadcast last night, it showed the three finalists battle it out on a photoshoot in the wilds of South Africa.
Catherine had to pose in a skimpy gold outfit while 'wearing' a yellow python as a stole.
Alex had the slightly easier job of lying on a rock alongside an Iguana - which she appeared delighted by when it was presented to her at the start of her shoot.
Stefanie, meanwhile, was completely horrified to be given a tarantula to pose with but manage to pull off some fabulous pictures as it crawled over her back.
The show, running over 12 weeks on Living TV, saw 13 contestants battle it out for the top prize.
The girls, mentored at times by designers including Zandra Rhodes, Sadie Frost and her partner Jemima French, faced tough challenges along the way to test every aspect of their modelling ability.
The final decision was made by the judging panel, made up of British model Snowdon, Icelandic model-turned photographer Huggy Ragnarsson and stylist to the stars, Gerry DeVeaux.
After eleven weeks of intense competition, catwalk cattiness and emotional drama, Demelza Reveley (pictured) has been named AUSTRALIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL during last night’s live finale of the hit FOX8 reality series. The 16-year-old school student from Wollongong took the title after narrowly beating Alexandra Girdwood, 21, from Sydney in a nail-biting fight to the finish line.
The winner was announced during the massive live finale at Luna Park’s Big Top in front of an audience of close to 2,000, and again incorporated a viewer vote to help decide who would be named AUSTRALIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL.
As winner of the fourth series, Demelza takes home a prize package including representation for 12 months by premiere model agency Priscilla’s; an all expenses paid trip to New York to meet with top international agencies; a Ford Fiesta Zetec; a contract as the face of Napoleon Perdis which includes an international photo shoot; and an eight-page fashion feature with Vogue Australia.
“I am so excited to be following in Alice Burdeu’s footsteps, this is an absolute dream come true” said Demelza after the announcement was made last night.
“I have worked so hard these past few months to trim down and set myself up as a major contender in the modelling world, and it’s so good to have my hard work pay off. New York, here I come!” she said.
Hosted by Jodhi Meares, AUSTRALIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL is the hit reality series exclusive to FOX8 that follows a group of young women as they try to prove they have what it takes to make it in the high-stress, high-stakes world of modelling. The 13 finalists, chosen after a nationwide audition tour in November 2007, spent ten weeks living together in a waterfront mansion while filming the series earlier this year.
Aside from the stress of learning the ropes of the business, the finalists had to deal with the ups and downs of ‘model house’ life: all the tears, tantrums and high drama you’d expect when you put 13 competitive and hugely ambitious girls under one roof! In each episode, the program’s panel of judges – including leading fashion designer Alex Perry and fashion identity Charlotte Dawson – assessed task performance and potential.
After each critique, one girl was eliminated and sent home. By the final, live episode, just two girls remained – Demelza and Alex. Both finalists have been the subject of intense media scrutiny throughout the series – Demelza coming under attack for being one of the “Dapto Dogs” who bullied Byron Bay student Alamela Rowan, and later for her drastic weight loss; and Alex being criticised for having collagen implants in her lips… with disastrous results. The results were close but in the end Demelza proved too good for her competition and beat Alex to become AUSTRALIA’S NEXT TOP MODEL.
Stephanie Izard became Top Chef's first-ever female winner when she took home the Top Chef: Chicago title during last night's fourth-season finale broadcast on Bravo.
"It's real exciting being the first female to win Top Chef," said Stephanie after her victory was revealed. "I'm so glad that I was able to pull through. Finding out that after all this hard work and maybe doubting it a little bit, this is just a reaffirmation. This is what I'm meant to do in life."
The 31-year-old chef from Stamford, CT who currently resides in Chicago, IL claimed Top Chef: Chicago's grand-prize package of $100,000 in seed money to help open a restaurant; a feature in Food & Wine magazine; a showcase at the Annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen; and a "gourmet dream vacation" in the French Alps.
Stephanie defeated Lisa Fernandes, a 27-year-old chef from Toronto, Canada who currently resides in New York City, and Richard Blais, a 35-year-old chef and culinary designer from Uniondale, NY who currently resides in Atlanta, GA, during last night's finale broadcast.
"I was just hoping. In my mind, I was like, 'There a really good shot I could take this.' Then she said Stephanie's name and I was like, 'F**k!,'" said Lisa after the winner was revealed. "This whole journey's been awesome. I'm proud of the dishes I've done, and this is what I want to do. This is what I'm always going to do."
"It's just disappointment," added Richard. "Losing at the last second sucks. That's why it's tough too, because you put your whole heart into it and then it doesn't work out. One thing that's good about this is to kind of refocus, just keep doing what I love to do. The future's bright for sure."
Top Chef: Chicago's finale began in San Juan, Puerto Rico following conclusion of the previous Judges' Table, which had ended with the elimination of Antonia Lofaso.
"There has never been a female Top Chef winner, so hopefully I will be the first one," said Stephanie.
The three remaining finalists met Top Chef judge and restaurateur Tom Colicchio and host Padma Lakshmi for their final challenge, and they were introduced to professional chefs April Bloomfield, Dan Barber and Eric Ripert. Tom explained that for the final challenge, each contestant would prepare a traditional four-course meal consisting of fish, poultry, meat and dessert dishes.
The three aforementioned professional chefs would be serving as sous chefs for the challenge. Since Richard and Stephanie both had four fourth-season elimination challenge victories to their credit, they drew knives to see who would pick which sous chef they wanted. Stephanie won and chose Eric, Richard picked Dan and Lisa got April.
The contestants would have three hours that day and four hours the following day before they'd have to serve their four-course meals head-to-head to nine dinner guests at a black-tie event.
All the chefs got to work and Lisa explained she wanted her courses to reflect her Thailand and Vietnamese cooking style, which she said she is naturally good at and wanted to showcase. Richard planned to use his Top Chef journey as the concept for his courses, with a mix of classic training and molecular gastronomy. Stephanie wanted to highlight her style, which she said was a well-balanced mix of different flavor combinations.
Richard quickly impressed April, Dan and Erik as he pulled out liquid nitrogen and gave an impromptu demonstration in molecular gastronomy.
"I think I just showed Eric Ripert something that he hasn't seen before," said Richard with slight amazement. "That's f**king cool."
Lisa and April got along really well and conversation flowed easily between the two, which surprised Stephanie since Lisa hadn't gotten along with any of the fourth-season contestants. The first day of work on their final courses then came to a close.
The next morning the three finalists arrived in the kitchen and were met by Tom, who revealed that they'd be without their sous chefs for the final four hours of preparation -- a move that obviously made the day a lot more difficult for the finalists.
Lisa was preparing grilled prawns, Tom Kha Gai soup and dumplings, Wagyu beef and black Thai rice pudding; Richard was preparing scallops, Guinea hen, foie gras and eggs, pork belly and banana "scallop" and bacon ice cream; while Stephanie was preparing seared red snapper, quail with lobster ravioli and quail eggs, lamb medallions and ricotta pound cake.
"All in all, all three menus sound great," commented Tom. "We're looking forward to a great meal."
With only a few hours remaining the contestants began to put the finishing touches on their dishes, however Stephanie was having doubts about her dessert because she had only made it once before.
"Stephanie's biggest weakness is the doubt that she puts on herself sometimes," said Lisa. "It's like, 'Stop doubting yourself! Be confident!'"
It was time for the chefs to present their meals. Joining Padma, Tom and fellow regular Top Chef judges -- Food & Wine magazine editor Gail Simmons and former Queer Eye food and wine expert Ted Allen -- for the dinner were April, Dan and Eric, as well as Delirio chef/owner Alfredo Ayala and Tim Zagat.
The chefs served their first course and Stephanie's red snapper was the most well-received.
"I think it's probably the best of the three," commented Alfredo.
"It was good. It was almost really good," added Tom.
All nine people at dinner gushed about Lisa's Tom Kha Gai soup and dumplings, and it was clearly the favorite in the second course.
"Lisa's soup was absolutely delicious," said Gail. "It was really well-balanced. I could eat a giant bowl of this and be completely satisfied."
"Lisa's was really very good," said Tim. "I probably would be happy to have seconds."
Both Richard's pork belly and Lisa's Wagyu beef received mixed reviews during the third course, while all of the diners were pleasantly surprised by Stephanie's use of mushrooms, braised pistachios, blackberries and olives on her lamb medallions.
"I thought she was going to crash and burn when I saw those olives," said Gail. "The second I put it in my mouth it was like a light bulb went on. I said, 'Oh, she's really thought about this.'"
"This is the first time I hear at the table everyone is using the words, 'I love,'" added Alfredo. "We haven't heard that yet."
"Richard's dish just needs work, Lisa's dish is just pedestrian, Stephanie's is full of surprises and it works," said Tom.
The desserts were then served, and both Lisa and Richard received rave reviews. However Stephanie's fears were realized when her ricotta pound cake wasn't very well-received.
"It was okay, but it was nothing special," said Tim.
With the dinner in the books, all of the diners discussed the meals.
"I think over the entire season -- over the last several months -- we've seen these chefs grow. We've come to know them," said Tom. "Richard is definitely more intellectual and out there. Lisa is sticking true to herself, what she likes to eat and what she likes to cook. Stephanie tends to have more of a homey spin on things. I think we have a very strong contrast of styles and flavors and I think it's going to be a very interesting Judge's Table."
Top Chef: Chicago's final Judges' Table then commenced.
For the first course, Padma thought Richard's scallops were under-seasoned and Tom agreed, calling them a "little bland." He thought Lisa was "very assertive" with her first course and she said it reflects her "spicy personality." Gail commented that Stephanie's first course was a "beautifully presented dish," and Ted and Padma agreed.
Gail thought Richard's second course "became kind of muddled," a general consensus amongst the judges. Ted said Lisa's was "virtually unanimous" as the favorite and "blew everybody away." Stephanie's dish was mostly complimented, however Tom said he couldn't understand why she used raw, crunchy leeks.
Richard's third course was criticized for the beef not being crispy enough, and he explained it was only seared because he wanted to keep the "integrity" of its flavor intact. Lisa said her beef was also "just barely seared" and Tom questioned that decision. Gail said the sweetness of the sauce used by Lisa threw-off the beef's taste. Stephanie's lamb was praised.
"I think it was one of the more creative things to happen all night," said Ted.
"This dish kind of reminded me why you should always keep a very open mind when you're eating," added Tom. "It was the last dish I tried. I thought it was full of surprises."
Richard and Lisa both received compliments for their desserts, and it became clear that the final course was obviously Stephanie's weakest.
"I had some issues with the dessert," said Tom to Stephanie. "It was a miss."
Stephanie admitted she "fell short" on the dessert and Lisa boasted about how she was confident in all of her courses. The same couldn't be said for Richard.
"I feel like I choked a little bit," he said. "I think I over thought things too much. I think when I'm at my best is when I'm not thinking. I think it certainly wasn't my top performance that I've had so far on the show."
The judges began to deliberate and Gail immediately expressed surprise at Richard's comment.
"In a sense, I agree with him," said Tom. "He made a few mistakes. When he says he chokes, he looks at the pork belly dish and knows that dish wasn't complete. I think we all agree that dish could have been better."
Tom quickly added Lisa and Stephanie also had "a few missteps" as well before the panel seemed to reach a decision after taking a poll on each dish.
Richard, Lisa and Stephanie then reconvened at the Judges' Table.
"This was a very, very tough decision -- very difficult to make," Tom told them. "In the end, we based our decision on which meal we would go back and like to have again."
Padma then revealed that Stephanie was the winner.
"I won Top Chef! Holy s**t! Really?" said Stephanie after her victory was revealed. "This is the biggest thing that's happened in my life. My life is about to change. It's going to be absolutely insane."
Bravo has already renewed Top Chef for a fifth season.
Recruitment sales manager Lee McQueen has become Sir Alan Sugar's fourth Apprentice - despite having been caught lying on his CV earlier in the series.
McQueen, from Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire, said he had to take "a deep breath" when the tycoon told him "you're hired" in the hit BBC show.
The 30-year-old beat three other hopefuls to land a £100,000 job alongside Sir Alan.
He said he would buy his girlfriend new shoes with his first pay cheque.
McQueen will begin work as Sir Alan's new apprentice on 1 July.
As well as planning to lease a new Porsche, he also said he wanted to help his mother get central heating in her flat.
"It's a terrible moment when you've got two great people and I have to make my mind up," said Sir Alan, who chose McQueen over runner-up and favourite Claire Young.
He called McQueen "a team player", adding that "he always seemed to give his all".
"He delivered every single time I asked him to do something," the Amstrad founder said.
Of Young, a retail buyer, who frequently clashed with Sir Alan in the boardroom, he said: "She's always got my help and assistance whenever she needs it."
The series pitches aspiring entrepreneurs to prove themselves in the world of business in the hope of winning a contract to work alongside Sir Alan.
McQueen was pitched against fellow hopefuls Young, Alex Wotherspoon and Helene Speight in a task to create a men's fragrance.
But Wotherspoon and Speight's efforts were not good enough for Sir Alan, who called McQueen and Young - a retail buyer nicknamed The Rottweiler - back for one final showdown.
Sir Alan told the pair: "Claire, you have some great attributes and Lee, you're very convincing. You are very, very, very convincing. I've concluded... Lee, you're hired."
"When I heard those words 'you're hired' it took a couple of seconds to sink in," McQueen said.
"What swung it for me was when I rolled off my record to Sir Alan. I've been a project manager three times, won three times and never been in the boardroom.
"Claire doesn't need anyone to feel sorry for her but I am gutted for her. I believed at some point that Sir Alan would choose her. She probably went through the biggest journey."
'Very emotional'
He added: "I'm a big softie and when we learnt we were the final two it was very emotional."
McQueen - who earned £78,000 last year - has been asked by Sir Alan to launch a digital advertising product which will come under one of the tycoon's "portfolio of companies".
He said he was "very ashamed" to have been caught lying on his CV in an episode when he was also hauled over the coals for his poor spelling.
"It lost me some of my integrity," he said.
"I got a good grilling and I deserved it, and I learned from my mistake. It won't happen again."
ITV celebrates ratings triumph as 14.4 million viewers watch live talent-spotting programme.
More than 20 million viewers tuned in for the Saturday night battle of the talent shows as ITV celebrated a ratings triumph with the help of a breakdancing teenager.
George Sampson's victory in Britain's Got Talent was watched by 14.4million viewers, turning the live programme into the most watched entertainment show of the year.
The figure, 60 per cent of all Saturday night viewers, topped the 13.9million who tuned in to the first ITV Pop Idol final in 2002, when Will Young beat Gareth Gates.
The ITV1 show left I'd Do Anything, its BBC One rival, trailing. A peak of 7.3million viewers watched Jodie Prenger, 28, win the competition for the role of Nancy in a West End production of Oliver! Prenger, a size-14 singer from Blackpool, won the contest after benefiting from a public backlash against suggestions from Cameron Mackintosh, the musical producer, that she was “not right” for the part.
George, 14, from Warrington, beat nine other acts to take the £100,000 prize and will appear at the Royal Variety Performance. His high-energy dance routine to a version of Singing in the Rain, complete with a staged thunderstorm, won over the judges and garnered millions of viewers' votes. But agents and record companies are wasting no time in turning all the finalists, including Faryl Smith, a 12-year-old operatic singer, into star names. George, Faryl and Andrew Johnston, the 13-year-old singer who finished in third place, will headline a nationwide Britain's Got Talent tour beginning this Friday at Hammersmith Apollo in West London.
George, who is being guided by the public relations team that looks after Robbie Williams, will sit a mock GCSE music exam before joining the tour. The show's producers promised that the wellbeing of the child stars will be paramount as they embark on a taxing 13-date tour appearing before thousands of fans each night. Tutors will join the tour party to ensure that the children do not fall behind.
Grorge said that he plans to spend his money paying off the mortgage of his mother, Lesley, to thank her for paying for his dance lessons.
He said: “This is like the star on the Christmas tree. I've danced on many stages since being 6 but the Royal Variety is the biggest variety show of all time.”
He was less enthusiastic about his imminent exam. “I've not had much time to revise, but hopefully it should be OK.”
An ITV decision to schedule Britain's Got Talent nightly last week, building momentum for the final, helped it to overshadow Lord Lloyd-Webber's search for an actress. The audience figures for Doctor Who slumped as a result of the ITV competition. Britain's Got Talent, co-produced by Simon Cowell, averaged ten million viewers for each episode during the series, making it one of ITV's biggest successes.
The Times understands that 2.2million votes were cast during the Britain's Got Talent final, suggesting that viewers were less keen to participate than in previous shows. A total of 8.7million votes were cast during the 2002 Pop Idol final but since then ITV has admitted a series of deceptions carried out during telephone votes. George was the clear winner in the telephone poll, which raised £600,000 for the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund.
