Ofcom: Leon's 'X Factor' win was genuine

The UK's broadcasting regulator today ruled that Leon Jackson was correctly named the winner of The X Factor 2007.

Last year's final saw Jackson beat bookies' favourite Rhydian Roberts. Thousands of viewers had problems getting through to vote, prompting a record number of complaints to Ofcom and heated discussion on the Digital Spy forums.

Many fans claimed Roberts had been robbed of a win.

Ofcom studied the final vote as part of its investigation into abuses of premium rate phone services.

However, it announced today: "...a detailed minute by minute analysis of the call data established that in the 2007 finals Leon Jackson was correctly announced as the winner (over Rhydian Roberts); that ITV did not mislead its audience in claiming that the finalists were “neck and neck”; and the difficulties some viewers found in calling the programme did not result in unfairness."

Complaints about X Factor series in 2005 and 2006 were also unfounded, Ofcom ruled.

Several ITV entertainment shows were at fault, though, and the broadcaster was today fined £5.68m for the offences.