Ben Haenow may have the right to wear a T-shirt with ‘I won The X Factor’ under one of his many leather jackets, but the runners-up have got advice from the most successful X Factor act EVER.
One Direction, who finished a measly third in 2010 when Matt Cardle won The X Factor, are evidence that winning isn’t everything.
Speaking to BBC Newsbeat, Liam Payne said: “You’ve been on an amazing platform and got some of the best teaching you could ever get anywhere.
“The show can only take you so far and only one person can win, so The X Factor often has other contestants who don’t win do well.”
They’ve just got to roll with it
“Obviously, they’ve got the tour to look forward to as well and they’ve just got to roll with it.”
And showing they’re not bitter about not winning THAT award many years ago, 1D appeared on The X Factor finals show on Saturday. Performing Where Do Broken Hearts Go? from their latest album Four, they were joined on stage by Ronnie Wood (introduced as a ‘Rolling Stone’ for all those tweens who were expecting the next Justin Bieber).
Other X Factor stars who didn’t win but haven’t done too badly out of the whole process include Olly Murs, Ella Henderson and Rebecca Ferguson. Even Wagner’s still got some notoriety for pounding the bongos…