Joe McElderry signs record deal thanks to Cheryl Cole

X Factor winner Joe McElderry has signed with Universal after winning Popstar to Operastar.

Joe was recently dropped by Simon Cowell's label, but thanks to his old mentor on X Factor Cheryl Cole (who is also with Universal), he can start recording again. He will be on the classic label Decca.

Go Joe!

From The Sun:

POPSTAR To Operastar winner Joe McElderry has landed a new record deal - with the help of old X Factor mentor Cheryl Cole.

Joe, 20, signed a six-figure contract with Cheryl's label Universal just days after his Operastar triumph.

And he has already started choosing tracks for an album - which will be a mix of popular "classic songs".

It is a massive boost for the 2009 X Factor champ, who was ditched by Simon Cowell's label Syco after just one album.

A TV Biz source said: "Joe is thrilled. It looked like he was on the scrapheap but Cheryl has come to his rescue and put in a word reminding bosses what a big talent he is."