Singer Sydnie Christmas wins Britain’s Got Talent

Singer Sydnie Christmas has won the final of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent.

The 28-year-old favourite from Kent receives a cash prize of £250,000 and the chance to perform at Britain’s Royal Variety Performance.

In tears after the result, she said: “I am overwhelmed with love and it’s the most amazing thing, and I wish every person in this room feels the way I do with this love. It’s amazing. Thank you so much.”

Christmas performed Somewhere Over the Rainbow in the final on Sunday night.

After the rendition, judge Amanda Holden was drowned out by thunderous applause as she said: “I know how long you have waited for this moment, it was utterly spellbinding and perfect in every way. It was just gold dust.”

Fellow judge Bruno Tonioli said: “That is what I call a show-stopping performance. You took my breath away.”

Alesha Dixon said: “You just radiate hope and joy and light. And there was something about that performance and that emotion, I felt it move through my body with you.”

Simon Cowell said: “That was really something special. That lyric felt so personal to you about what you must have wanted over the years with a God-given talent like that and for whatever reason you’ve been ignored. I actually felt very emotional.”

Nuclear engineer-turned-magician Jack Rhodes was this year’s runner-up. In third place were the Ghanaian dancing duo Abigail and Afronitaaa.

Additional Reporting: Press Association

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