Former painter and decorator tipped to top the charts with When We Collide

Matt Cardle is a red-hot 4/9 favourite with Paddy Power to have the Christmas number one with the Biffy Clyro hit When We Collide after claiming X Factor 2010 glory.

The 27-year-old former painter and decorator today spoke of his shock at getting the nod and when asked on ITV's Daybreak if he thought he was going to now top the charts over the Festive period he replied: "I really hope so, I really, really hope so."

Matt had been the market leader almost all the way throughout the X Factor series and it was revealed last night that he had secured most votes from viewers every week since Mary Byrne just shaded him after the opening show.

Even so, Matt insisted he was surprised to see off Rebecca Ferguson and One Direction in the final after earlier starring with the Katy Perry song Firework.

"I thought Rebecca was going to get it, to be honest, once One D went," said Cardle, from Colchester in Essex. "She is literally one of the sweetest girls you could ever ask to meet in your life."

"She is amazing. One Direction, I feel for them, they worked so hard, so hard for the entire show, they both deserve everything."

As for the moment when he was crowned champion, Matt declared on Daybreak: "It was so shocking that it made me numb straight away and I haven't really got the feeling back yet.

"I am still in a bit of a spin about the whole thing. I said earlier 'it'll probably sink in next Christmas when I watch somebody else win and I say oh, I did that last year'. It's just crazy."