Alexandra Burke has been crowned the winner of The X Factor 2008.

The London-born singer beat boy band JLS to claim the first prize of a lucrative recording contract.

Burke’s cover of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’, which she performed on the show, is available as a digital-download now, and will be released on CD next Wednesday (December 17th).

Like past winners of the talent contest, the song is all but assured chart-topping success.

Burke, who was mentored throughout the series by Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole, fought back tears to thank the programme’s judges.

"Thank you for making my dreams come true everyone,” she added.

The singer will go on to perform with Sir Elton John at the O2 Arena in London on New Years Eve.

During the live final, Burke joined Beyonce Knowles for a rendition of the singer’s hit ‘Listen’.

A total of eight million people voted during Saturday’s live final.

Previous winners of the talent contest include Leona Lewis and Leon Jackson.