Mobile phone salesman Paul Potts was celebrating today after being crowned the winner of Britain's Got Talent.

Last night's show saw two million viewers cast their vote - the biggest number so far, according to co-host Ant McPartlin, who had earlier declared: "The whole country has gone Paul Potts potty."

The 36-year-old from Port Talbot, South Wales, counts Pavarotti among his heroes and wowed judges with his version of Nessun Dorma.

The Ant and Declan Donnelly-hosted show saw variety wannabes from singers to performing dogs vie for a £100,000 prize and a slot in this year's Royal Variety Performance.

Potts was told by judge Simon Cowell that next week he would be heading for a studio to be recording his debut album.

Potts said afterwards: "I feel like jelly. It means like absolutely everything thank you for believing in me.

"I don't think there's any way to describe this. It just leaves me speechless. Absolutely speechless."

Fellow judge Piers Morgan told Potts: "You've earned it, you've deserved it and I can't think of anybody I'd rather see represent this show at the Royal Variety Performance."

Potts was also told: "Well done and good luck with the rest of your life," by judge and actress Amanda Holden.

The finale was the culmination of nine nights, 50,000 acts, five audition shows and three semi-finals.

Potts beat six-year-old finalist Connie Talbot, from Sutton Coldfield, near Birmingham, who had been hotly tipped for the top spot.

The gap-toothed youngster's rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow went down a storm with judges, with Cowell telling her: "Not only are you a great singer, you've got guts. You're brilliant."

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