(Jamaica Gleaner) “Ohhh!!!” he shouted. Then he was out of breath.
Jamaica’s Dalton Harris, 24, had just been announced the winner of the 2018 UK X Factor.
Overwhelmed with emotions, Harris bent forward then placed his hands on his knees to support a weakened torso.
“I won the X Factor?” he asked. “You won the X Factor,” host Dermot O’Leary replied amid the screams in the concert hall, by then at deafening decibels.
Scarlett Lee was earlier announced second and Anthony Russell, third in this the 15th season of the UK talent show.
And when the Jamaican delivered the duet The Power of Love with singer James Arthur, the audience went wild.
Harris’ win was predicted by every single artiste who appeared on today’s results show as guest performers.
“That’s the sound of your future,” judge Ayda Field Williams said amid loud cheers in the London auditorium.
“You are the power of love. It made me feel like I’m sitting at one of your concerts,” she said.
Arthur was also stunned by the vocals of the Jamaican singer.
He said he knew he would have to show off his skills performing alongside Dalton Harris.
“Dalton still has a lot to learn but I have no doubt he will continue to do well,” Arthur said.
The season, which started with the auditions on September 1, has proved to be an emotional and groundbreaking journey for the Northwest Clarendon-born rising star.
Harris has won a £1 million (approximately J$162,632,400) recording contract with Syco Music in association with Sony Music.