Rak-Su: Boy band beat Grace Davies to win X Factor 2017

  • Published
Rak-SuImage source, Getty Images

Rak-Su have been named the winners of the X Factor 2017.

The Watford-based group beat Grace Davies in the final of the ITV singing competition - the first boy band to win since the show started in 2004.

Rak-Su thanked viewers for voting for them, while their mentor Simon Cowell hailed them as "stars".

Proceeds from Rak-Su's winners' single Dimelo will go to children's hospice charities Together For Short Lives and Shooting Star Chase.

The track, a duet with Wyclef Jean and Naughty Boy, was first performed during Saturday's show.

X Factor judge Cowell also praised runner-up Grace Davies, describing her as "really an outstanding, outstanding artist".

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Simon Cowell described runner up Davies as "outstanding"

The finalists performed several original songs during their appearances on X Factor, marking a change in the show's approach this year.

In the ratings battle, however, the first part of the X Factor final - which was shown on Saturday night - lost out to Strictly Come Dancing.

The BBC dance contest's quarter final had an average audience of 9.7 million, while the first night of the X Factor final averaged 4.4 million viewers. The two shows overlapped for just over an hour on Saturday.

It was a similar story on Sunday night, when they overlapped for 40 minutes, with an average audience of 5.2 million for the second part of the X Factor final and 10.3 million for Strictly.

Both Rak-Su and Davies previously had songs played by BBC Introducing before auditioning for the X Factor.

Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.