If you live outside Britain you have probably never heard the name of Shayne Ward, but by this time next year, my guess is that you will. Shayne Ward is the newest winner of Simon Cowell's reality TV program, The X factor. He strolled away to win the top prize of a million pound record contract and his first single Thats My Goal was duly released four days before Christmas.

It is widely tipped to be the Christmas Number One, and judging by the queues in the record stores, there will not be too much competition. Shayne is twenty-one and comes from a large family in one of the poorer areas of Manchester. In recent years the winners of these reality TV programs have more often than not sunk without trace in record time, if youll pardon the pun, but there is something about this kid that suggests he will last the pace.

He is an excellent ballad singer, a fantastic live singer, nothing seems to phase him, and one senses there is an inner steel about this young man that he will need if he is to shrug off the tag of a one-hit-wonder reality TV show winner. This time I suspect that Simon Cowells organisation have finally created a true star who will not only last the pace, but will make the leap to international stardom. Of course any singer is only as good as his songs and this will be the acid test for Shayne Ward. If the songs are good enough this handsome kid has every chance of making it to the very top.

In a tense final of three acts, the duo Journey South were the first to bite the dust, and that was all that the backers suspected. In the final pairing Shayne finally prevailed over the much publicised trash collector Andy, a hugely likeable older singer who too would seem to have every chance of a bright future. No more rubbish for him!

Millions of pounds was once again wagered on the outcome of this live show, and half the nation seemed to stay in glued to their TV sets to watch the outcomes of rival networks TV reality show programs. But it was the X Factor that caught the imagination of the bettors and over a million pounds changed hands on the night. You can obtain a free $30 bet on future reality TV progs by checking out Betfair.com. Just fill in the code 6CHE3VPWJ where required.

So please remember the name, Shayne Ward, for this time I suspect a real star has emerged, a star who can challenge those established male heartthrob singers who have seemed to rule the roost for far too long. Shayne Ward is coming to disturb their peace!