Sam Bailey gave six votes to Nicholas McDonald to ensure he'd get an X Factor finale spot.
The 36-year-old brunette triumphed over the 17-year-old Scot in Sunday night's (15.12.13) finale of the ITV talent show, but has sensationally admitted she put her own place in the last stage of the competition at risk by voting for the teenager because she was desperate for him to get to the final.
She told BANG Showbiz: "I voted six times on semi-final night for Nicky because I wanted him to be in the final. Afterwards I thought, 'What if there was only six votes in it?' I would've voted him through and I would've been off the show!
"He'd had a bad week when he'd sang a song and it didn't go to well. So I literally voted for Nicky and I'm glad I did because we both made the final together."
Despite beating Nicholas in the final, Sam predicts he will have a bright future in the music industry.
She added: "You know he's going to do fine. He's going to do amazing. He's got so many years to grow as a performer so he's going to do well."
Tagged in Sam Bailey