Student Today / Matthew Raymond-Barker

A BRITISH university student on a placement in Toulouse has been voted the winner of the French version of X-Factor.

Matthew Raymond-Barker, who studies French at the University of Bath, beat native French contestants to win the TV song contest on M6.

The 22-year-old was awarded a recording contract with Sony and his first single, a cover of Daniel Balavoine's Vivre ou Survivre, will be released this weekend.

Raymond-Barker, who comes from Mitcham in south London, decided to enter the competition while on a university placement in Toulouse after he failed to get through the British version.

He sang both in English and French throughout the competition - and performed songs by Eminem, Rihanna and Michael Jackson in the final, in front of two million viewers.

News Source:connexionfrance.com