Ben Haenow: The X Factor win helped 'heal family rifts'
The X Factor winner Ben Haenow has said the competition has helped heal long-held rifts in his family.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain, Croydon-born Ben said both his parents had managed to sit in the same room together which they had not done "for a long, long time".
"I wanted them both there because it was going to be a big moment for both of them," Ben said.
He also dodged proposing to his long-term girlfriend Jess on national television - but let slip that he "loved her to bits".
Ben was a surprise winner but won over half of the public votes (57.2%) on Sunday.
The X Factor bosses revealed Ben had been the front runner in the public vote since week four of the competition, after he had taken the lead from Andrea Faustini.
"None of it feels real! But it is incredible. It is absolutely incredible to be here," the 29-year-old star revealed.
Ben will now release his version of OneRepublic's Something I Need.