This year's American Idol finale has ended in an unexpected landslide for David Cook, a former bartender from Blue Springs, Missouri.

The decision stunned even judge Simon Cowell as the 25-year-old claimed victory in the competition over a 17-year-old prodigy and expected victor, David Archuleta. Cowell had chalked Archuleta up as the likely winner the night before, leaving egg on his face when he apologised to Cook early in the show for writing his chances off early.

“I didn’t really know if the apology was warranted,” Cook later told reporters backstage. “I thought what he said was an opinion and nothing more. At no point did I feel disrespected. I’m appreciative of the fact that he decided to apologise. An apology from Simon is a pretty rare gem.”

A record 97.5 million viewers voted on the competition. Host Ryan Seacrest said Cook had won by a margin of 12 million votes over Archuleta, who had enjoyed the most praise throughout the season.

Despite the judges' surprise, Cook's success was predicted by a number of online outlets. But his song choices throughout still proved to be rebellious in the wake of a long line of pop-orientated winners.

On Tuesday night Cook went with Collective Soul's The World I Know, while record producer Clive Davis picked U2's I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For for the singer as the producer's choice track.

Earlier in the season Cook performed songs by the Who and Our Lady Peace, in one instance choosing to croon Chris Cornell's cover of the Michael Jackson track Billie Jean - a truly outside-the-box pick.

Opponent Archuleta, from Murray, Utah, had opted for tracks such as John Farnham's You're the Voice and John Lennon's Imagine, which he chose once again for Tuesday's performance. Davis picked Elton John's Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me for Archuleta, the performance of which host Randy Jackson deemed "flawless."

Cook was awarded a recording contract with Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment and Sony/BMG, as well as an SUV.

The season came to a close yesterday, the same day on which Fuller, the creator of the series, was named the most successful British music manager of all time by Billboard magazine.

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