Ben Haenow is the winner of the UK's 2014 X-Factor, announced on the evening of December 14, 2014, beating Fleur East. His first single "Something I Need" was released on the night of his win. Background Ben Haenow was born in 1985 and grew up in Croydon, UK, attending Spring Park Primary and then Edenham High School. He was in a band with his brother, Alex, called The Lost Audio. Prior to winning the UK X-Factor in 2014, Ben Haenow was a van driver.