Over an hour after the excitement of the first part of tonight's finals ... and after months of auditions ... weeks of live shows ... rumour and controversy ... it's the Results!
Beyonce's performance gives the viewers those last precious minutes to get their votes in. And us a chance to reflect on last year's final - Rhydian Roberts the super-voice, Same Difference the slick group, Leon Jackson the teenage heartthrob with occasional 'tuning issues'. And consider how this year it's the same roles on stage, just different names ... Alexandra Burke, JLS, Eoghan Quigg.
Voted into third place at this early point in the Results show is ... Eoghan! So the final two aren't a repeat of last year. It's an Alexandra-JLS final two.
JLS are first up to sing the winner's song, Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. Such a beautiful rendition, gentle, lovely harmonies, so emotional, vulnerable. Wow! Then the choir joins them on stage and Aston turns up the volume and drama. They give it their all, and by the end they look drained. An utterly wonderful version.
Then Alexandra starts her more intimate solo performance. Wonderful rich voice, some of those warbles but not enough to ruin the beauty of the song. As with JLS, the choir comes on stage, but Alex's soaring vocals easily overpower theirs.
With 8 million votes cast tonight, the winner of The X Factor 2008 is ... Alexandra! The super-voice has won this year, and sings the show to its conclusion.
This year the winner's song is a truly great song - and for the Christmas season more appropriate (superficially at least) than previous ones. Hallelujah as sung by Alexandra Burke will be vying for the Christmas Number One spot. It's just got to be in with a teensy weensy chance, don't you think?
Drop by and discuss tonight's show in our The X Factor forum!
Alexandra Burke - Hallelujah