X Factor winner Alexandra Burke looks dead set for this years Christmas number one after her astonishing rise to fame on the show.

Our man Rickie popped out of MTV News towers yesterday to meet the chatterbox and find out all the gossip about the show and her future career

RICKIE: So Alexandra you are the X-Factor winner 2008! How are you doing?
ALEX: Nice to meet you darling, Im good. Really good, Im on cloud nine!

Now that youve won it, how does it feel?
It's actually still quite surreal, nothing has sunk in yet and its just really weird going from the routine in X-Factor to the routine of a signed artist. Its so different and I was warned about it but didnt take any notice because I didnt think I was going to win and now I wish I had!

So obviously being on this show for the whole duration, you must have made a lot of close friends. Who are your closest friends?
I'm friends with everyone but in particular Ruth. She is my girl for life. She has helped me so much- she even packed all my stuff on Sunday when I didnt have anyone to help me and weve just got a connection.

And how do you think your counterparts are going to fare in their careers now that youve won?
Oh my gosh, extremely well! I know for a fact, I even said to Simon the other day when I was in his room I was like, Simon, there is one person you need to sign. Ruth! You need to sign Ruth immediately! and he was like Hmm, okay. But I know JLS are going to be amazing, I know Eoghan is, I know theyve got bright futures- itd be wrong if they didnt get signed!

Now we bumped into each other a little while back at the Bond premiere
Buying popcorn!

Yeah, buying my popcorn and my nachos! Did you think back then that you were going to win the show?
No, I didnt think for a second! Even when I auditioned earlier on this year all I said to my brothers is I want to get a step further than I did the last time and that is it, dont care because once youre in the final twelve you deserve tap on the back because out of 182,000 people that applied youve just made it! Thats all I wanted.

But as the weeks went on, I got more and more hungry, I got more like Oh gosh, I really really want this, I know Im not going to win but I still want this and Im so happy that I got given a second chance, you know, Im really grateful for this opportunity.

Now you got to work with some amazing artists- Take That, Will Young, Britney, and Beyonce! Who is your favourite and did they give you any tips on how to be a superstar diva?
The favourite has got to be Beyonce, I mean Mariah was something else but, Beyonce just lifted everything! And tips? She just always told me if your voice is tired you need to rest it, to really really rest it and just shut up! The same advice that Take That gave me as well. Have you heard the good news as well?

Whats the good news?
About the single? Fastest single downloaded, ever!

Of all time?
Ever! E-v-e-r. Im going to get that tattooed (Laughs)

So who, if there is any artist out there whose success you could emulate who would you like to choose?
I would like to emulate Leonas success because she is amazing. Shes come from Hackney, a receptionist and shes global. She is an international superstar!

And who did you admire as a kid growing up, like musically?
Well the main person would have to be my mum, cause you know; she's an inspiration to me but also Whitney, Mariah, Aretha Franklin and Destinys Child. I love Beyonce so much oh my god its a joke!

So whats next? Is it the X-Factor tour, promoting the single, getting into studios to record a new album?
Okay Ive not been told but from what I can see its basically promotion for the single hopefully get to number one for a Christmas present for me. Then it's spending Christmas with the family and looking forward to the tour.

Has Simon spoken to you about the album at all?
No, were having that meeting in January. Hes actually in Barbados right now, the lucky man! The real work starts in 2009.

I heard you say to Simon that you are looking forward to working your socks off!
Yeah, I literally said to him 'I dont want breaks, dont give me breaks!' Christmas will be my break. 25th of December then apart from that I dont want a break I want to work, I want a gig, I just want to sing! This is my chance, no distractions, come on!

Imagine Simon said that you could work with any artist in the world who you going to chose?
Okay, producers " my God theres so many but I would love to work with Babyface- hes amazing and Pharrell as well. I wanna do a duet with Leona and also have a duet on the album with Beyonce.

And what did you think of the song Hallelujah before you recorded it. Did you know about it beforehand?
When we got the news it was Hallelujah I actually went up to my room and cried and was thinking I cannot do this song! But then I had ten minutes with the song, listened to it, let it get into my blood because that was the first time Id heard it and I was like, oh my god, the meaning, everything is beautiful, I can actually try and do something with this song. And then I saw the video today, oh my god!

Yeah, its good!
Youve seen it?

Yeah!
Oh my god youve seen it! Oh! Oh gosh it's absolutely amazing! It brings me to tears every time I see it.

How is your relationship with Cheryl Cole?
Yes, very very close with that woman. I love her.

Is it true she's told you that you cant have a boyfriend?
Yeah, no distractions she said! She was like: 'Keep men well out of the way' and it's quite crazy cause Ive always had a distraction in my life and now Ive not and I just wanna concentrate now. This is it for me and I wanna make this work!

Alexandra, Congratulations!
Thank you so much!