When Matt Cardle gave his tearful rendition of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face no-one was aware of the meaning the song held for him.
But after the performance was screened a friend told the secret behind Matt's tears.
"Matt's been doing a bit of family tree research and it seems there's a slim chance that one of his ancestors might have fought in the Duke of Marlborough's army at the battle of Blenheim, in 1704.
"Matt is very proud of that... he's proud that an ancestor of his might have played a part in thwarting Louis XIV's ambitions in the War of the Spanish Succession.
"He was so chuffed that he went to Marlborough's home, Blenheim Palace, and thought he might have seen the face of someone who might have been his ancestor in a small painting there.
"He automatically thought of the song and has been determined to perform it live ever since."
