According to The Sun Simon Cowell, has plans to send Joe out to the States in the New Year to tie up a lucrative deal, which will make the timid singer £5million.

Three major US TV networks and several Tinseltown movie giants have already contacted the music mogul about cashing in on Joe’s success.
They reckon the 18-year-old singing sensation is a dead cert to take over from former teen idol Efron, 22, who has made millions from the smash-hit High School Musical films.

Cowell will launch the US bid after Joe, from South Shields, became the most popular champion in X Factor history – beating rival Olly Murs, 25, in last night’s gripping ITV final.
As predicted that Joe would be the out right winner, he got 61.3 per cent of the final vote, with Olly on 38.7 per cent.

After host Dermot O’Leary announced his win, stunned Joe hugged his emotional-looking mentor Cheryl Cole and said: “I can’t believe it.
“I’m so happy. Thank you so much to everyone.”

Joe added: “I voted for Alexandra Burke last year and now I’ve won as well. I feel like I’m floating. I feel like jelly. I’ve literally had the best experience in my life.”

Cheryl, who also mentored last year’s winner Alexandra said: “I feel over the moon. I am absolutely delighted. I’m so proud of him I could pop.”

The Stateside ball was set rolling when Cowell picked a US-friendly Disney track as Joe’s first single.

Last night thousands of fans downloaded his version of The Climb – originally sung by Miley Cyrus in the Hannah Montana movie.


A source close to Cowell said: “Simon has already set the wheels in motion for Joe’s Stateside success.
“He has been bombarded with offers from TV and film studios and is in the enviable position of having several incredible offers.

“They all want someone to fill Zac Efron’s shoes, as he’s fast moving out of the teen market now he’s 22.

“Having a cute English guy take on the mantle is every US producer’s dream because the English accent is seen as a real draw.

“Picking The Climb was all part of the strategy. Simon chose the song as soon as it became clear Joe was in pole position. It’s a song that will work well in Britain and the US.

Today he said he was ‘pinching himself’ as a reminder that he is not dreaming after his victory in the hit show.

The 18-year-old said being crowned winner last night was the ‘best experience’ in his life.

‘I am still pinching myself, I cannot believe it, that I am sitting here, and that I have just won X Factor,’ he told GMTV.

‘I think it is going to take a long time to sink in. It was just amazing, it has been the best experience of my life.’

He added: ‘I just feel like I am in this dream and then it keeps hitting me.’

Asked about reports that Simon Cowell will take him to Hollywood in the New Year, to tie up a £5 million deal to turn him into the “next Zac Efron”, McElderry said: “I have not heard about this, this is news to me. I wouldn’t turn it down if that was the case.”

He added that he would “definitely go” to the US and do some acting if he was invited.
“I definitely would, I would give it a go,” he said.