Of all the ire aimed at the X Factor, surprisingly little is targeted at the actual contestants. Sure, week in, week out, the forums bemoan one performance or another, or a look or style, but the enduring vitriol is kept for the judges or the svengali Cowell, or just the whole sorry mess.

The reality for these 'reality' stars is that, more often than not, once the no-hopers and nutters are sieved out, the finalists are usually a decent bunch of young wannabes with at least a modicum of talent. Once they escape the show's immediate clutches, many go on to great success. Not all, of course, but talent show acts like Girls Aloud, JLS and Will Young have all done well enough to prove they have something.

Another X Factor alumnus with that 'something', is Rebecca Ferguson. Runner-up in the seventh (2010) series, she releases her debut single, 'Nothing Real but Love', on 27th November with her first album due for release in early December (just in time for Christmas, what luck).

Unlike some of her X Factor contemporaries, Ferguson is something of a singer-songwriter and is credited with co-writing the songs on her debut record. Possessed of a rich, soulful R&B voice, it is reported that Ferguson was passionate about singing her own songs and apparently told Sony she would not be recording the 'cheesy' music they had lined up for her. Whether this was the right decision will soon become clear but the early signs are promising.

Rebecca Ferguson's 2012 tour kicks off at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester on 20th February, followed by dates in Gateshead, Glasgow, Sheffield, Birmingham, York, Cardiff, Liverpool and more, before the final gig of the tour at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, on 13th March 2012.

We will have tickets available for all dates when they go on sale at 9AM on Friday 25th November, priced £20 for London and £19 for all other dates.