BGT winner revealed

'Dark horse' beats bookies favourite...

09:30 06 June 2011

Singer Jai McDowell has beaten bookies favourite Ronan Parke to become this year's Britain's Got Talent winner.

It was a close-run battle between the Scot and 12-year-old Parke, with just 2.5 per cent of the votes separating the two acts.

Twenty-four-year-old McDowell beat both Parke and band New Bounce, hailed as the new JLS, to claim £100,000 prize.

McDowell, a disability support worker from Tarbolton, told hosts Ant and Dec at the time:

"I feel absolutely amazing, fantastic... it's so much more."

He was one of the last acts to perform on the show, singing Josh Groban's To Where You Are.

Second placed Ronan shrugged off recent controversy the show had been 'fixed' for him to win and received a standing ovation following his performance of Kelly Clarkson's Because Of You.

He later proved a gracious loser, saying of his experience:

"I loved it, thank you to everyone who voted. Congratulations Jai."

As well as watching the finalists perform, the crowd were treated to performances from new US X Factor judge, Nicole Scherzinger, and America's Got Talent star, 11-year-old Jackie Evancho, who stunned the audience with her rendition of Nessun Dorma.

McDowell will perform in front of the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance later in the year.