Mitchell 'never saw Voice victory coming'
Leanne Mitchell has spoken of her astonishment after winning The Voice, saying she "never saw it coming".
Mitchell, mentored by 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 last night's 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 Jones. He had previously covered the song with The Stereophonics.
After the result was announced, Jones 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."
Mitchell said she became increasingly consumed by nerves as the contest came to a close last night and, as she was crowned the winner, wondered "what just happened".
"I never saw it coming," she added.
"I think every time I was getting a stage closer, it was another shock.
"I can't really take it all in at the moment."
But she said her mentor was "really pleased", adding: "He said he was really proud."
Recalling the final, she said: "All day we were in rehearsals, all day and all week, and myself, along with the other guys, we just wanted to enjoy it.
"I just wanted to try and savour it and enjoy the night and not let nerves get in the way too much.
"I was nervous, I got more nervous as the night went on."
She said performing her final song, as her husband Rob looked on in the audience, was "really emotional".
Mitchell celebrated at an after-show party, finally going to bed at about 3am.
She has kept her future plans close to her chest, disclosing only that she would like to produce an album and recreate the duet she performed with Sir Tom.
"I haven't spoken to the record company yet but it would be nice to hear what they have in mind," she said.
"I would love to make an album."
