Last Updated: 25 Jan 2010

Rage Against The Machine did it

It all started with a small web campaign that against all odds gathered massive momentum, resulting in a historical defeat...

Little Joe McElderry, this year's X Factor winner with the angelic voice was denied what most winners before him have been all but guaranteed - that career making Christmas No.1.

A Facebook campaign was started by fans who said they were sick and tired of what the saw as Simon Cowell's money making schemes and saturation of the British chart. And so they chose perhaps the most un-Christmassy song you could ever imagine, entitled 'Killing in The Name' by American rockers Rage Against The Machine.

Joe took the defeat well, posting on his Twitter page, 'Hey guys thank you to everybody that bought the single and supported me! Well done to RATM for a interesting chart battle.'

Simon Cowell said that he was gutted and before the results were announced he had likened the Facebook campaign to bullying.

So what do you think of all this? Did Joe deserve it or are you glad we have a non-X Factor No.1 for a change?