Former X Factor winner signs to 50 diners
As Leon landed the £1million recording contract, a former winner was singing to 50 diners in a pizza restaurant.
Steve Brookstein was the first winner of X Factor in 2004 but was dumped by Simon Cowell eight months after getting the Christmas No1 with Against All Odds.
Steve, 39, told diners at the restaurant in Maidstone, Kent: "I'm surprised so many of you are here to see me on the night of the X Factor finals." As he began with a gravelly rendition of Commodores song Nightshift, a waitress shouted: "Salsicha al forno anyone?"
But Steve, who performed on the P&O Portsmouth to Bilbao ferry in June, wasn't taking himself too seriously.
He said: "I don't know how many of you have got my new album. It's not widely available - in fact, I couldn't find it anywhere. I think Sharon Osbourne's been going around Tesco taking it off the shelves.
Steve's set was littered with digs at X Factor judges Cowell and Sharon.
By the time the desserts were being served, a flurry of text messages told diners Leon had won this year's competition.
Steve added: "I'm sure he's a nice guy but there are so many talented people out there who don't get a chance."
Mirror
