[Beastie]

X Factor's first ever winner Steve Brookstein is planning to take on Simon Cowell for the Christmas number one this year.

Steve has recorded a cover of Peter Gabriel's hit Don't Give Up, the Sun reports, which he is selling for homeless charity Street Smart, and he hopes it will beat this year's X Factor winner to the top of the charts.

The 42-year-old housewives' favourite won the singing talent show in 2004 with six million votes, a record until Joe McElderry beat it last year.

His debut single Aganist All Odds went to number one in 2005 but he was dropped by Simon's label Sony BMG just eight months later.

In 2009 he announced plans to write a tell-all book to lift the lid on his experiences of The X Factor.

Steve relaunched his music career earlier this year, gigging in pubs around the country and is also supporting his wife Eileen Hunter, in her singing career.

source: http://music.uk.msn.com/news/article...ntid=155359527

Lol.