Four million fewer viewers tuned in to watch Little Mix win the X Factor, compared to the show’s 2010 finale.
But that still means over 15m ‘people’ watched the off-centre faces of the half-Geordie girl band contort with joy.
The show’s ugliest ever winners garnered 48% of the votes to be crowned the new queens of pop.
The band also picked up the Steve Brookstein award for Act Most Likely to Turn To Bitter Cowell Sniping Via Twitter.
Marcus Collins was second after viewers rejected his pencil moustache in favour of the full beards sported by two of the four-girl band.
Amelia Lily was third, with ‘X FACTOR I LUV UUUUUUUU LOL!!!!!! 
‘ coming fourth with 2.3% of the text vote.
Defeated finalist Marcus Collins said: “I hope they go on to get exactly the career they deserve.”
Little Mix’s South Tyneside duo Jade Thirlwall and Perrie Edwards said: “Finally the North East is back on the map after wor Joe Mcelderry won the X Facta years ago.”
Provided with a map by a quick-thinking local photographer the pair then smiled blankly and pointed to an area of the Nairobi Desert.
