Ben Haenow is on track to land a Christmas number one a week after he said victory in the X Factor final had "changed my life".

The Shirley van driver, 29, won more than half the public vote in the three-way battle to claim the talent show crown, beating favourite Fleur East into second place on Sunday night.

Following his triumph, in which he scored 57.2 per cent of viewers' votes, his debut single shot to the top of UK charts with 75,000 sales in two days.

Haenow, who topped the poll in last seven televised showdowns, described himself as "the happiest man alive" on Twitter after his victory. He added: "It has changed my life". 

He told ITV's Good Morning Britain today that his rise to stardom had not yet sunk in. He said: "None of it feels real. It’s incredible to be here.

"It feels amazing. With Fleur’s track going to number one and the performance she gave, I did not expect. I thought Fleur beat me."

Dean Maynard, who managed Haenow during the series after being contacted by his aunt in June, said his success a victory for "the man on the street".

He said: "I know I'm biased, but Ben is a great guy and such an amazing talent. He can be very proud of himself. 

"We have championed him since the audition and we're just so happy that we've won. It is amazing for him and his family."

He added: "We were there right from the start and if we said 'Ben Haenow', they'd have said 'Who's that?'

"Well everyone knows who Ben Haenow is now. I hope he is very successful, I really do, and I wish him all the luck in the world.

"Everyone has worked so hard and the 'Haeniacs', who are just absolutely mental - but in a good way -  their support has been priceless. It is a good win for everybody. The man on the street."

Haenow's single, a cover of One Republic's Something I Need, went on sale online on Sunday and is available in shops tomorrow.

Profits will go to children's charity Together For Short Lives.