Rhydian's mum urges fans to "move on"

Rhydian Roberts' mum has urged X Factor fans to "move on" following her son's surprise defeat in last Saturday's final.

TV regulator Ofcom has received more than 1100 complaints from viewers claiming that they were unable to vote for the bookies' favourite, who finished second to Leon Jackson.

But his mother Angela, 56, said the family now wants to put the incident in the past, telling the South Wales Echo: “We are just asking the nation to let it go and move on. The competition is overstaying."

She added: "We give our very best to Leon as a family and look forward to Rhydian’s own career developing as it should.”

She also denied reports that her husband Malcolm thought the contest was fixed, saying: "He never said that and it’s all very upsetting. We just want to draw a line under it.”

ITV released a statement earlier this week, assuring fans that there were "no irregularities" with Jackson's win.

Wales’ First Minister Rhodri Morgan has revealed that he was unable to vote for Rhydian during the final. He said: "I can confirm at 10.29pm on Saturday I attempted to vote for Rhydian and I couldn’t get through. I didn’t hear him sing, but I thought as a loyal Welsh person I should vote for him, but I couldn’t register my vote so my telephone bill will be smaller.”