Leanne blindsided by Voice victory (From Warrington Guardian)

Leanne blindsided by Voice victory

10:42am Sunday 3rd June 2012 in National Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

Leanne Mitchell has spoken of her astonishment after winning The Voice, saying she "never saw it coming".

Mitchell, mentored by Sir Tom Jones, appeared stunned after the result of the public vote was announced during the final of the BBC singing competition.

The former holiday camp singer later said she could not believe what she was hearing.

She said: "I thought, did they just say my name? It is such a weird feeling, you can't really put it into words. It's just, 'oh my God, what's happening?'"

Mitchell, who won a recording contract following her triumph, beat fellow contestants Tyler James, mentored by Will.i.am, and Bo Bruce, who was guided through the show by Danny O'Donoghue. Vince Kidd, coached by Jessie J, was eliminated earlier in the programme.

Mitchell first impressed the judges in the blind audition stage of the show when she sang Beyonce's If I Were A Boy.

During the live show, she delivered strong performances of It's A Man's Man's Man's World by James Brown and Run To You by Whitney Houston.

She also sang Mama Told Me Not To Come by Eric Burdon and The Animals in a duet with Sir Tom. He had previously covered the song with the Stereophonics.

After the result was announced, Sir Tom said: "This confirms that there is justice in this world."

Mitchell, 28, from Lowestoft, who writes and plays keyboard and was once close to sealing a record contract, told viewers: "I am starting to believe in myself."