LONDON, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Alex Parks has won the second series of the BBC's Fame Academy talent search, beating Alistair Griffin in the final.
The 19-year-old from Truro, Cornwall, picked up a £1 million ($1.6 million) m recording contract and luxury lifestyle, including a London flat.
British bookmakers' favorite and darling of the show's tutors, Alex won a majority of the 4.5 million viewers' votes.
She looked shocked and held her hand to her head as the result was announced. She told BBC presenter Claudia Winkleman: "I kind of can't feel my body. And I'm happy."
Alex impressed voters with her renditions of John Lennon's Imagine, Tracy Chapman's Baby Can I Hold You, and Beautiful by Christine Aguilera.
Runner-up Alistair, 25, from Whitby, North Yorkshire, widely considered to be the best songwriter in the Academy, was philosophical in defeat. Alistair had been championed by Bee Gee Robin Gibb.
