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REAL Like You were crowned the winner of X Factor: The Band tonight after a tense battle with boy group Unwritten Rule.

Six girls and six boys went head to head in the hope of landing a record deal after being put together on the ITV show this week.

 Real Like You win X Factor: The Band as the girls thrash boys' group Unwritten Rule
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Real Like You win X Factor: The Band as the girls thrash boys' group Unwritten Rule
 The girl group were put together this week on X Factor: The Band
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The girl group were put together this week on X Factor: The Band

After their name was announced, singer Seorsia Leagh Jack told the show's host Dermot O'Leary: "Oh my god! I'm so overwhelmed by happiness right now."

They walked away with a recording contract after being put together over the course of the week, with Ella Eyre, Fred Ball, Lil Eddie and Naughty Boy helping to pick the band.

The girls beat off competition from Unwritten Rule after they stunned viewers with an original performance of band member Kellimarie's song, Be Like Them.

The 17-year-old burst into tears during the performance and explained afterwards: "I wrote that because I didn't feel like I fitted in with any of the friends that I had.

"And it's for any of you who feel like you don't fit in."

 The girls, Real Like You, smashed all of their four performances on Sunday night
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The girls, Real Like You, smashed all of their four performances on Sunday night
 Unwritten Rule opted to sing mostly ballads in their bid to win the series
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Unwritten Rule opted to sing mostly ballads in their bid to win the series

Making up the girl band was Kellimarie Willis, 17, Jess Folley, 16, Luena Martinez, 20, Seorsia Leagh Jack, 18, Virgina Hampson, 17 and Halle Williams, 19.

The six lads who had hoped to triumph over the girls in Sunday night's show were Boaz Dopemu, 19, Caius Duncombe, 19, Fred Roberts, 17, Harrison Cole, 19, Jed Thomas, 16 and Reece Wiltshire-Fessey, 19.

During the final, the bands each sang four songs in an attempt to wow viewers.

The girls impressed people at home with their flawless performances of Destiny's Child's Independent Woman and Demi Lovato's Sorry Not Sorry.

Nicole Scherzinger led the tributes after the girls performed their third song, a mash-up of Ariana's Problem and The Weeknd's I Can't Feel My Face.

 Dermot O'Leary returned to host X Factor: The Band this week with judges Leona Lewis, Nicole Scherzinger and head honcho Simon Cowell
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Dermot O'Leary returned to host X Factor: The Band this week with judges Leona Lewis, Nicole Scherzinger and head honcho Simon Cowell
 Simon Cowell said the boys were 'back in the game' after their final performance of Lewis Capaldi's Before You Go
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Simon Cowell said the boys were 'back in the game' after their final performance of Lewis Capaldi's Before You Go
 Nicole Scherzinger put on a busty display
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Nicole Scherzinger put on a busty displayCredit: Rex Features
 Girl band Real Like You had Leona Lewis out of her seat dancing
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Girl band Real Like You had Leona Lewis out of her seat dancingCredit: Rex Features

She said: "You're so strong and confident up there. Seriously all of you girls add something so completely different to the group. I'm beaming, I'm so grateful, as a girl as a woman, I adore you girls."

Former X Factor winner Leona Lewis agreed as she gushed: "I'm so so proud, I just enjoyed it, there as production, there were dancers, and you just stood out and held your own."

And Simon, who had drafted in acclaimed producer Max Martin to coach the bands for their final performances, told them: "I just can't wait send this performance to max Martin because he is going to be blown away.

 Virginia nearly didn't make it out of the first audition stage
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Virginia nearly didn't make it out of the first audition stage
 Unwritten Rule singer Jed performs in the final
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Unwritten Rule singer Jed performs in the final

"That is what a live performance is all about. That was immaculate."

Elsewhere, 2018 X Factor winner Dalton Harris returned to the stage and sang his latest single, Cry.

Simon's hunt for a new pop phenomenon to compete with Korean K-Pop acts such as the top-selling boy band BTS has now come to an end.

Simon Cowell reduced to tears by X Factor: Celebrity children's charity clip
 X Factor 2018 winner Dalton Harris sang his latest song, Cry
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X Factor 2018 winner Dalton Harris sang his latest song, CryCredit: ITV

He previously said K-Pop is ruling the world and the show is "to find a band to launch UK-Pop."

He added: "It’s more than winning a record contract, it’s starting a new music wave. Every group will be put together by us — just like One DirectionLittle Mix and Fifth Harmony."

The series replaced the previously planned X Factor All Star spin-off that was going to see previous winners face off against each other.


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