Partially-sighted Andrea Begley beats bookies favourite Leah McFall as she is voted the winner of The Voice 2013
By FAY STRANG
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Team Danny's Andrea Begley has been voted the winner of The Voice 2013 after receiving the most number of public votes.
Looking visibly shocked, after securing herself a recording contract, she said: 'I actually can't speak. I never could have imagined this. First and foremost I want to vote everyone who voted for me.'
Beating the bookies favourite Leah McFall, her proud mentor Danny O'Donoghue gushed: 'You are an inspiration to me.'
Winner: Andrea Begley has won The Voice 2013, securing herself a record contract
Proud: The singer received a kiss from her mentor as the news was announced
Mike Ward and Leah McFall were the other two acts who made it to the final. while Matt Henry was voted off in the first stage of the show.
In the build up to the final, all of the money had been for Leah, whose performances in recent weeks had seen her odds slashed from 6/1 to 2/7 before the start of the show’s finale which meant that Andrea’s odds drifted to 6/1 before the final.
Andrea no doubt won over the hearts of the public due to her positive attitude and ability to not allow being blind to get in the way of her dreams.
The winner only has 10% vision, and her sight has been getting progressively worse since she was diagnosed with glaucoma at just five year’s old.
Victorious: Andrea beat Leah and Mike to win the television show
Favourite: Leah had been the bookies favourite to win for a number of weeks
Delighted: Andrea couldn't wipe the grin off her face
Stunning: Throughout the competition Danny regularly said that Andrea made the hair's on his body stand on end
In the middle of all the excitement it almost went unnoticed that as Holly announced the winner, she accidentally said 2003, rather than 2013.
Taking to Twitter following the show, she made light of her rather big mistake: 'Well done Andrea!!! Can't wait till 2004! What a year that will be!!! Oops! X'
Mike Ward kick started the show with words of wisdom from his mentor Tom Jones telling him to ‘just be natural, be yourself’ urging him on.
Taking to the stage the dapper looking singer, who wore a white shirt with black swallows printed on it, sung Elvis’ classic song Suspicious Minds.
Surrounded by glamorous looking women dressed in sexy black dress Mike looked a far cry from the boy who first auditioned on the show.
Shocked: Andrea looked visibly taken aback that she had won the show
Final song: Andrea was joined on stage by all of those who took part in The Voice 2013 following her win
Voted off: Matt Henry was the first act to be voted off the live final
Following his performance Mike not only had the audience on his feet but Tom too.
Speaking to Holly about the song he said: ‘I love Elvis Presley, he’s a big inspiration for me.'
Tom wasted no time in gushing about his act and said: ‘He was very shy when he first came on and now he’s getting stronger and stronger all the time. He’s a lovely man and he deserves everything he’s going to get.’
Gracious: Matt took being voted off very well while Jessie said he didn't deserve it
Started: Mike Ward was the first singer to perform in the live final
Confident: The singer looked very comfortable as he danced with women in sexy black dresses
will.i.am was complimentary about his rival and said: ‘I was grooving. It was really great, congratulations.’
Danny agreed and said: ‘I think this was one of your best performances.’
While Jessie added: ‘I feel like you relaxed and enjoyed that. Well done.’
Next up was Andrea Begley, who was welcomed on stage after her mentor Danny said she had ‘the voice of an angel’
Singing My Immortal by Evanescene Andrea performed with an image of angel wings projected behind her.
As she sang her mentor Danny was on his feet swaying to her dulcet tones.
Impressive: The 27-year-old stunned with her version of My Immortal by Evanescene
Winning: Danny will no doubt be delighted that his team member has won the show
Speaking after the 27-year-old from County Tyrone performed Danny revealed: 'She was really nervous before coming out. People have fallen in love with you over the last six weeks. There wasn’t one hair on my body that wasn’t standing up.’
Tom, who was also on his feet, said: ‘She has a beautiful sound. Very emotional. The pitch is really great.’
Jessie added: ‘I just want to say how proud I am of Andrea getting to the final.’
Different: Matt Henry started his performance of David Gray¿s Babylon from backstage
Ahead of the next act Matt Henry’s performance, his mentor Jessie gushed about him: ‘You know what. I am so picky about artists. I have enjoyed working with Matt so much. I see him as a friend. I see him beyond this show becoming a great artist.’
Rather unconventionally the 34-year-old began his performance of David Gray’s Babylon from backstage.
Pretending to gear up for a gig he gradually made his way to the stage, not once missing a note or taking his eyes off the camera.
Overwhelmed: Jessie J was delighted by her act's performance
After getting all the judges on his feet he then sat on the edge of the stage to finish his performance.
Looking incredibly proud Jessie said: ‘It’s the final and that was a final performance. Amazing.’
Looking incredibly proud Jessie said: ‘It’s the final and that was a final performance. Amazing.’
Tom agreed and said: ‘I thought he was great. The performance was first class. He brought it to the party.’
Will was equally impressed and added: ‘Whatever happens on the show, what just happened, that was happening because that was art.’
Group performance: To start the show the judges took to stage for a group performance
The final act to sing was will.i.am’s Leah McFall from Belfast, ahead of which will said: ‘So Leah is a great singer and a great personality.’
Taking on the notoriously hard Dolly Parton's I Will Always Love You, made famous by Whitney Houston, Leah took to the stage wearing an extremely long pair of eyelashes and high wasted leather shorts.
Will stared the comments and said: ‘Singing that song was a hard song. I was a friend of Whitney’s. I’m getting choked up. She would be very proud of you.’
Flapper: Jessie wore a silver 1920s style dress while her hair had a pink tinge
Tom agreed and added: ‘Leah is a freak but in the best possible well.’
While Danny used a slightly odd description: ‘God didn’t just kiss her throat he made out with it.’
Then it was the stage for the acts to sing with their mentors and first up was Mike who was singing Green Green Grass Of Home by Tom Jones with the man himself – Tom Jones.
Following the song Mike gushed: ‘It’s incredible. He’s one of the reasons I got into country music.’
While an ever supportive Tom added: ‘I’ve heard a lot of people sing it. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone sing it better than Mike just did.’
While an ever supportive Tom added: ‘I’ve heard a lot of people sing it. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone sing it better than Mike just did.’
Staging: Andrea performed her first song with wings projected behind her
Next up Andrea joined The Script to sing Hall Of Fame, which originally featured will.i.am.
After a very energetic performance Andrea said: ‘It was just an honour. I never thought I’d have an opportunity to sing with them.’
Danny looked equally as happy and said: ‘Tonight it wasn’t my band anymore. She owned the song.’
Duet: Jessie and Matt looked like they were having a great time as they sang together
The upbeat duet was followed by Jessie J and Matt, who performed Never Too Much by Luther Vandross, which they both seemed to thoroughly enjoy.
Matt couldn’t quite believe his luck and shouted: ‘How amazing is she?’
While Jessie gushed: ‘You know what is nice. We genuinely get on, we have fun which is what music is about. I have never met someone who deserves this son much.’
Fun: will.i.am and Leah put on a very stylish performance of Bang Bang
Last up came Leah and will for their duet of Bang Bang, originally performed by Nancy Sinatra, which was played in black and white 1920s style.
The pair put on a very impressive, stylish and choreographed performance which really showcased Leah’s voice.
Coming of the stage Will told Holly: ‘You know the reason I’m in love with Leah’s talent because I know she is going to entertain. She is the real deal.’
Brave: Holly wore a very eye catching dress which showed off a lot of cleavage
Following the solo and duets the phone lines were frozen as Dizzie Rascal and Robbie Williams took to the stage to perform their single Goin' Crazy.
After the votes had been counted it was revealed that Matt Henry would be the first act to leave the live final, after receiving the least amount of votes from the public.
The remaining three acts Mike, Andrea and Leah then had to sing their favourite song from the whole series, as the phone lines were opened once more.
Nervous: The acts all looked very nervous as they waited to find out who would be the first act to leave
Anxious: will was equally as concerned as the first act to be voted off was announced
Mike chose Don’t Close Your Eyes by Keith Whitley which he sung earlier in the competition.
Following the performance Tom said: ‘Fantastic. That was the strongest that he’s done that song so far.’
While Danny added: ‘You certainly saved the best till last. I’m really proud of ya.’
Farewell: will made sure to say goodbye to Matt after he had been voted off
will received a number of boos when he said: ‘I thought it was a pretty cool song. I thought there were some bits which were flat.’
Next up Andrea took to the stage to sing her audition song - In The Arms Of An Angel by Sarah McLachlan.
Her mentor Danny looked very emotional ahead of her performance and after he gushed: ‘That was the best I’ve heard you sound. So relaxed, so confident.’
Impressed: will was delighted with his duet with Leah and gushed about how well it went
will said: ‘Everything was in key. She was in control. It was hypnotizing.’
Jessie agreed: ‘It feels like you take over my whole body. It’s like a spiritual thing.’
Tom was also in agreement, adding: ‘She gets me every time. I would like to say this Mike Ward was not flat tonight.’
Classic: will and Leah's performance started in black and white creating a beautiful image
Once last song: The finalists were all given the chance to sing their favourite songs from the series
Finally Leah took to the stage to perform Loving You by Minnie Riperton which wowed the judges the first time round.
Her mentor, will.i.am, meanwhile was moved to tears before revealing that she had suffered from a sore throat all day.
Jessie was equally impressed and said: ‘In my opinion Leah is the winner.’
However after a performance from Michael Buble, once all the votes had been counted, Andrea was announced as the winner of The Voice 2013.
Winning stuff: Andrea's last performance left everyone in the room moved
Break: Michael Buble took to the stage while the votes were counted
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2346518/Andrea-Begley-beats-bookies-favourite-Leah-McFall-voted-winner-The-Voice-2013.html#ixzz2WzjP5nhm
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