'I wasn't expecting this', says shocked Essex winner of The Voice UK

Ruti Olajugbagbe with mentor Sir Tom Jones Credit: Press Association

Essex student Ruti Olajugbagbe has been crowned the winner of The Voice UK.

The 18-year-old was led to victory by mentor Sir Tom Jones, and fended off competition from Donel Mangena, Belle Voci and Lauren Bannon in the series finale.

Olajugbagbe looked visibly shocked as her name was announced by the ITV programme's host Emma Willis.

Holding back tears, she said: "I wasn't expecting this... I didn't expect to get to the blind audition, I don't know what to say!"

Essex student Ruti Olajugbagbe has been crowned the winner of The Voice UK. Credit: Press Association

Olajugbagbe, who has won a record deal, thanked Sir Tom for his support and for believing in her.

Her version of Dreams by The Cranberries will be her debut single, to be released immediately after the ITV programme's finale.

She and Welsh singer Sir Tom had performed a duet of Louis Armstrong classic What A Wonderful World during the show.

She also sang If You're Not The One by Daniel Bedingfield and Dreams, her "song of the series", after she and Mangena were revealed to be in the final two.

Earlier in the show, Olajugbagbe said Sir Tom had "always believed in me, since the blind auditions".

"He's always been there for me and told me to be myself. It's amazing that he thinks I'm that good," she added.

Sir Tom said she is a "wonderful, magical, sincere" singer, and that he is touched by her voice.

The final four acts in The Voice UK Credit: Press Association

But the Essex teenager had not been favourite to win the competition.

Sixteen-year-old Mangena had been tipped for victory throughout the series and even has a fan in Prince Harry, who invited the teen to perform at the Queen's 92nd birthday celebrations this month.