BBC | The One and Only

How does it feel to have made it to the grand final?
I never thought I’d get to the grand final. When I started the show, I was worried that people wouldn’t know my artist. However, I can’t believe the support I’ve been getting. I just don’t want nerves to get the better of me. I want to be able to watch the show back feeling that I did as much as I could.

What has been the hardest part of the show for you?
Having to vote the other acts off has been really difficult. We’ve all got on so well that it has got harder and harder. When Jo and Siam were in the bottom two I just didn’t know what I was going to do. I don’t feel that either of them deserved to be there.

What has been the greatest part of being on the show for you?
The confidence I’ve got just from being on the show has been amazing. But I’ve also made some friends for life. Jo and I get on so well. It has been fantastic.

What has been your most challenging song?
My semi-final performance was definitely the most challenging because I had so much at stake. My sister is coming from Australia for the grand final and there was so much pressure to get through.

She phoned me in week three and said, ‘I just have to come to the show.’ We spoke about whether she should come that week or wait for the grand final. I couldn’t decide but we agreed on the grand final not knowing whether I’d still be on the show. Assuming I’d been voted off, we said that we’d just have a party instead. But I’ve got through!

What has been your favourite song?
You might well think I’d say You Don't Have to Say You Love Me. However, my favourite is really Son of A Preacher Man as it was the first performance I watched back and thought, ‘That isn’t me, that is Dusty Springfield.’

What would you have said had you ever met your artist?
I would have said, ‘You never knew it but you were and still are the greatest British singer we’ve ever had. I think we forgot to tell her whilst she was alive.’

What do you want to do next?
I want to keep performing and paying tribute to her. I’d love to perform a show of her songs and travel round the country with it.