'Did I see him kiss Freddy Parker?' Viewers speculate that newly-crowned X Factor winner Matt Terry shared an exchange with ex-contestant onstage

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The former contestants of this year's X Factor swarmed onto the stage on Sunday night to congratulate champion Matt Terry on his win.

But eagle-eyed fans of the show seemed to spot Matt receive an over-excited congratulations from one ex-contestant as he marked his moment of victory.

As the likes of 5 After Midnight, Honey G and runner-up Saara Aalto surrounded Matt in a massive group hug in the centre of the stage, viewers believed that they caught an unseen exchange between the two hunks.

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'Did I see him kiss Freddy Parker?' Viewers speculate that newly crowned X Factor winner Matt Terry was kissed by former contestant on stage

Matt was then dragged away from the rest of his co-stars by the show's host Dermot O'Leary, to express his reaction to winning the X Factor crown.

Freddy could be seen in the background, clearly very emotional for his former-competitor, being hugged by Gifty Louise as they watched Matt make his winner's speech.

Both Matt, 23, and Freddy, 18, competed as part of Nicole Scherzinger's Boys' category on the current season of the show, with Matt seamlessly sailing through the competition week-after-week and Freddy being voted off in week two.

This hasn't stopped Freddy supporting his friend Matt through the process however, with Freddy championing the solo artist via Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, encouraging the public to vote for him.

Congratulatory kiss? The former contestants of this year's X Factor swarmed onto the stage on Sunday night to congratulate champion Matt Terry on his win. But eagle-eyed fans of the show seemed to spot Matt pay attention to one ex-contestant in particular as he celebrated his moment of victory

Close: As the likes of 5 After Midnight, Honey G and runner-up Saara Aalto surrounded Matt in a massive group hug in the centre of the stage, viewers believed that they saw the two hunks lock lips in a brief celebratory peck

Emotional: Freddy could be seen in the background, clearly very emotional for his former-competitor, being hugged by Gifty Louise as they watched Matt make his winner's speech

Romance in the air? Matt was then dragged away from the rest of his co-stars by the show's host Dermot O Leary, to express his reaction to winning the X Factor crown

As soon as Matt was annoucned as the winner of the series, Freddy uploaded a cute snap to Instagram of him cuddling up to the champ, along with the caption 'My brother... you did it' and a heart emoji. 

Matt was left astounded as he discovered he had beaten fellow hopeful Saara Aalto, 29, after the duo battled it out in the live show in Wembley Arena.

Led by Nicole Scherzinger, the Bromley-born crooner reigned victorious in the show's 13th series after which he belted out the winner's single Christmas Comes Around, written by Ed Sheeran.

He is the eighth solo male to win the show, although his predecessors have often failed to find chart success - a curse Matt is no doubt aiming to defeat. 

A blossoming relationship? As soon as Matt was annoucned as the winner of the series, Freddy uploaded a cute snap to Instagram of him cuddling up to the champ, along with the caption 'My brother... you did it' and a heart emoji

Disbelief: Matt was left astounded as he discovered he had beat fellow hopeful Saara Aalto, 29, after the duo battled it out in the live show in Wembley Arena

Winner: Led by Nicole Scherzinger, the Bromley-born crooner reigned victorious in the show's 13th series after which he belted out the winner's single Christmas Comes Around, written by Ed Sheeran

As host Dermot announced the news that he had trumped his rival, Matt's reaction was so dramatic that he collapsed to the floor shortly before scooping his mentor into his arms. 

The show's head honcho and chief judge, Simon Cowell lauded the rising star for his win as he said: 'Matt it's your night, it's an important record you know that' - a comment which could allude to his status as a male winner. 

As he belted out the winner's single his fellow finalists joined him on stage while he tearfully sang the record during which he was congratulated by his cohorts, who bundled on top of him in an overjoyed display.

Cuddling up: It was at this point tweets began emerging on Twitter from viewers who caught a supposed glimpse of Freddy and Matt's intimate moment

Just friends? 'Well is there something going on between Matt Terry and Freddy Parker on the X Factor? Me thinks there is!' one social media user typed speculatively

It was at this point Tweets began emerging from viewers who caught a supposed glimpse of Freddy and Matt's giddy moment. 

'Well is there something going on between Matt Terry and Freddy Parker on the X Factor? Me thinks there is!' one social media user typed speculatively.

'Freddy Parker & Matt Terry are definitely a thing!!' came another more certain post.

'Matt and Freddy an item? Is that true or just gossip?' another fan desperately wondered.

'Very glad #MattTerry won #XFactor well deserved and did I see him kiss @FreddyParker98 at the end I do hope so!!' came someone else's commentary.

Former competitors: 'Freddy Parker & Matt Terry are definitely a thing!!' came another more certain Twitter post

Back on stage: Freddy performed on Saturday night's X Factor with the rest of the contestants 

Under wraps? The dalliance was being kept hidden by the pair - known to both be singers that had made it through to the live shows - after they sparked up a relationship during the audition process

Another tweeter typed '#MattTerry giving Freddy a lil kiss there...' followed by someone else who posted: 'Matt and Freddy are definitely a couple, after that hug from behind and that kiss!'

'Will Matt Terry run over to his boyfriend Freddy Parker if he wins for a congratulations SNOG,' someone else posted, before the winner announcement was even made.

Matt has grown increasingly close to mentor Nicole Scherzinger, who even broke down during an exchange with the contestant on final night.

She told him that he was the reason she returned to judging the competition as she gushed about her pride for him.

Similarly, it was Nicole who was first to receive a congratulatory hug from the winner, who swept her off her feet before doing the same for runner-up Saara.  

Elsewhere, one newspaper planted the seed of an alleged secret relationship between two of the current contestants earlier this month.

The dalliance was being kept hidden by the pair - known to both be singers that had made it through to the live shows - after they struck up a relationship during the audition process.

It was so under wraps not even the show's judges and most of their fellow contestants were aware if it, according to reports.

Secret romance: A gay love affair has been blossoming behind the scenes of The X Factor between two contestants that even the judges don't know about, a report claimed last month

According to The Daily Star, a same sex couple had been growing close after meeting during an earlier stage of the contest – but were keeping things quiet as their feelings developed. 

‘Their family and friends know they are an item but they’ve kept it a secret from viewers and that’s the way they want it for now,' the source said. 

The X Factor has had a long history of romances and this year is no different – it brought together couple Emily Middlemas, 18, and Ryan Lawrie, 20.

And arguably fellow 1D star Liam Payne, 23, and Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, 33, owe their relationship to the show – having originally met in 2008 when Liam auditioned in front of Cheryl when he was just 14.

Meanwhile, Matt has been tagged with eligible status ever since his first audition when he revealed that he was bouncing back from a break-up from his girlfriend. 

No secret: Emily Middlemas and Ryan Lawrie have been very open about their romance behind the scenes of The X Factor 

Date night: Cheryl Fernandez Versini and Liam Payne attended a charitable carol concert in London last month