Ed Sheeran wants collaboration with U.K. reality show winner

Ed Sheeran wants to give the latest winner of The X Factor U.K. a big boost by offering up a collaboration.

Singer-songwriter James Arthur, whose mentor was pop star Nicole Scherzinger, took home the crown on the talent show's finale on Sunday (09Dec12) and landed a lucrative record deal - as well as an invitation to join Sheeran for a jam session.

Ed Sheeran told James Arthur, "Well done. Let's get into the studio together as soon as the show's done," while a source tells Britain's The Sun newspaper, "Ed sees some of himself in James. He likes his style and is convinced a collaboration would be a big hit."

Nicole Scherzinger, who has also said she wants to record a track with James Arthur, described the 24-year-old victor as "a fighter", adding, "He wanted this, he willed this to happen. He deserves this so much."

The X Factor final featured performances from chart-topping acts One Direction, Rihanna, Rita Ora and Emeli Sande.