Ella Henderson Signs Record Deal With Sony

Ella Henderson has become the first of the also-rans from this year's The X Factor to sign a record deal, inking a contract with Sony.

The 16-year-old left the show in a shock twist back in week seven - when the judges elected to keep eventual winner James Arthur in the contest instead of her.

But now she has beaten runner-up Jahmene Douglas and boy band Union J to put pen to paper - confirming the news when she appeared on Irish TV's The Saturday Night Show at the weekend.

Re-tweeting dozens of messages of support from her fans, she wrote: "Thank u for your kind messages! X It's all of you who help to inspire my music!! I cannot wait for 2013"

As the news spread the hashtag #EllaSignedToSONY became the top global trending term.

The X Factor winner James Arthur yesterday saw his debut single Impossible go to the top of the Official UK Singles Chart.

SEE PICS FROM THE X FACTOR FINAL