Brookstein Steve - Getting Over the X

Mum, Dad, Sis, Rob and the rest of the family. You know how much I love you.

The one innocent person who was dragged into my X Factor experience was my then girlfriend, Eileen. Through good and bad weve come a long way, and now married, weve been blessed with Hamish and Esm. I wouldnt have made it without you.

Let our life really begin.

When contemplating writing this book over many years I could never quite bring myself to do it. After the Max Clifford conviction I felt stronger, but it was still with much trepidation that I contacted broadcaster and ghostwriter Tony Horne, even though he was highly recommended by a friend on Facebook, Victoria Hockley. Once we met I was sure that it was time to finally put things behind me the best way I knew how by dealing with it. Against the clock, but with incredible discipline and expertise, Tony has helped share something that was emotionally too heavy a task to take on alone. Warm, considerate and honest: I cant thank you enough.

To John Iley, a man whom I have never met, I thank you for piecing together some bits we couldnt.

To Matt Rance @ProofProfessor, your genius, software and speed make you a must for any writer and publisher.

To the team at Matador, we had a deadline and you delivered where nobody else could. Thank you.

I will state for the record that some of my thoughts expressed herein are feelings that I had at the time; others are conclusions that I have drawn through the passing of time. I hope we make that clear in the book. Equally, in the sections concerning the live TV shows, the date used as a chapter heading invariably represents both that nights show and the week leading up to it. I say that for the avoidance of doubt in the unlikely event that there are grey areas over specific days.

Then came people who have made a direct contribution through supporting me and the book.

You all know how you have helped, and I want you all to understand how grateful I am. Without true friends, supporters and contributors neither my book nor my new album would have happened:

Morag Livingstone

Chris Hayden

David Bradford

Niki Wibrow

Ryan Lee

Lynn Turley

Sandra Ford

Jenny Fortnam

Geraldine Coen

Michael Lamb

Loz Stokley

Connie Gurney

Sandra Colston

Toby Croney

Then there are the unsung heroes and I know a few too many of you by name. If you are in the millions who picked up the phone and voted even just once, I, of course, thank you, especially if you have stayed the course since 2004.

Old friends Clive, Eric and Linda: Im thinking of you.

After 50,000 applicants and sixteen weeks of fierce competition, this is it. Only two acts remain Steve and G4.

One of them is about to become the winner of TheX Factor. The other leaves with nothing.

The public have been voting all night and Im about to deliver their verdict. Good luck to you both. Can I ask the official adjudicator for the vote, please?

Kate announced that it was now 8 million votes.

OK, you ready? she asked.

The winner of TheX Factor is

Thennothingtwenty seconds of silence interspersed with a crowd holding their breath before bursting into a frenzy.

I looked skywards, closing my eyes. Louis was smiling, shaking his head. The G4 boys were all linked their arms around each others shoulders. Simon looked calmly into the distance, whilst Sharon was chatting to her vocal coach in the audience.

Steve, she shouted...