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21 June 2013

Belfast church girl favourite to win BBC’s The Voice

A Christian from Newtownabbey in Northern Ireland has not only made it through to the final of The Voice tomorrow but is the favourite to win the singing show.

Belfast fashion student Leah McFall has stunned viewers and audiences with her performances and hopes for victory as she takes to the stage of the BBC1 talent show.

The former Antrim Grammar School pupil and member of Glenabbey Church, who now lives in London, regularly sings at her home church when she's back visiting family and friends in Glengormley.

Her musical performances have been captured online, including her singing Hillsong's Great Is the King last year. 

Her mentor Will.i.am, record producer and a member of the Black Eyed Peas described her as "the best thing since sliced bread" and "the best artist in the UK in a long time".

In one report, Leah responded: "To hear those kinds of sentiments from Will.i.am, saying I could be the next big female artist to come out of the UK, was pretty amazing. I felt so encouraged coming back out to perform and was glad I got the chance to show everyone he made the right decision."

She soared to number three on the iTunes charts with an alternative cover of I will Survive and the 23-year-old wowed coaches and viewers with her cover of Lovin' You by Minnie Riperton.

It has been said that viewing figures have been falling since blind auditions but Leah's popularity had caused it to pick up for the recent semi-final in which there was a quadruple elimination. Her sensational vocal range has made her a YouTube hit. Cover versions of John Legend's Ordinary People and Justin Timberlake's Suit and Tie attracted more than 100,000 views between them.

Peter Lynas national director of Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland said: "It is great to have a Christian contestant representing Belfast and Northern Ireland in this vocal competition. We wish Leah all the best for the final and the future."

The 23-year-old fashion student says of herself: "I sing weird, dress like a grandpa and look like a furby!"

Find out more about Leah McFall online or follow @leahmcfallmusic on Twitter