The winner of the X Factor 2016, Matt Terry, exclusively told Closer of the moment he shared some heartfelt words with ex-One Direction member Louis Tomlinson.
Louis, 25, performed his debut solo single Just Hold On on The X Factor final this year, days after his mother Johannah Deakin tragically lost her battle with leukemia.
Johannah was diagnosed earlier this year with what her family called "an aggressive form of leukemia", and passed away aged 43.
As well as Louis, she was also mother to Lottie, 18, Felicite, 16, twins Daisy and Phoebe, 12, and twins Earnest and Doris, 2. She'd also recently become a grandmother to Louis' son Freddie.
Matt, 23, said he made sure to tell Louis just how brave he thought he was.
"After he performed at the final, I don’t think there was a dry eye left in the room," he says.
"He was really inspirational and really brave and such a hero.
"I managed to catch him when he came off stage and told him how brave he was and how inspired I was, and he just wished me luck, then off he had to go."
Matt and Louis are now head to head in the race for a Christmas number one. Louis' song is his first solo effort since leaving One Direction, while Matt is hoping to bag the top spot with When Christmas Comes Around, his X Factor winner's single, which was written by Ed Sheeran.
"If I did get the Christmas number one it would be incredible, not just for me but the two charities the single is supporting," says Matt.
"I got to meet some of the kids throughout the show and I got a bit attached to them, so I really want it to do well for them."
All proceeds from the single will be split between two charities – Together For Short Lives and Shooting Star CHASE, both of which support children with terminal illnesses.
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