Singing sensation Leona Lewis has triumphed in Saturday night's final of The X Factor, becoming the first female to win the popular reality show and walking away with a £1 million record deal.
The 21-year-old's win over Liverpudlian Ray Quinn was watched by a record 12.6 million viewers, with more than 60 per cent of the votes in favour of the chanteuse who described the outcome as "a childhood dream come true".
"I am so happy, I just can't believe it. I just want to sing and do music for the rest of my life."
The singer's first single, a cover of Kelly Clarkson's hit A Moment Like This, is hotly tipped to become the Christmas number one, with pre-orders by record shops already standing at a million. And some bookmakers have already closed their books on the star's chances of making it to the coveted number one slot.
The receptionist from Hackney, East London, sang her way to victory with a version of Whitney Houston's classic I Will Always Love You, and is set to jet over to America to meet with Whitney's producers. "We have found a British girl who is up there with Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston," said judge Simon Cowell.
"Leona has the opportunity to be a major, major world star. I don't think this country has produced anybody like this in years. It is just incredible. It is like being given a jewel and you have to protect that jewel," added the hugely successful music producer.
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