by Leigh Mytton BBC News Online

Sinead Quinn may have been the runner up in TV talent show Fame Academy but that did not stop her from signing a �1m record deal within weeks of leaving the Academy. Her first single is released on Monday.

Sinead Quinn proved a hot favourite with viewers on the very first episode of TV talent contest Fame Academy.

The Northern Irishwoman won a public vote to become the 12th student to take up residence in the show's centre of excellence.

Ten weeks later she bagged 2.5m votes to take the runner-up spot behind David Sneddon.

A �1m record deal followed, and her debut single, I Can't Break Down, is now out.

Sinead has denied a romance with Malachi

Fame Academy only finished in December, but Quinn says: "It feels like ages ago - sometimes it seems like it never happened."

She describes the experience as "totally fantastic" and "very intense".

"It really has helped me - I've got a lot more stamina," says music graduate Quinn, whose determination to withstand the punishing Academy regime provided the inspiration for her single.

She admits, however, to feeling choked when rivals Malachi and Pippa were expelled from the show, adding: "You do get close to these people."

She got particularly close to Malachi. Their budding romance gripped viewers, but Quinn insists it was just for fun.

"I really like him. He's a lovely person but there's nothing else happening.

David Sneddon won Fame Academy

"We were winding each other up, but a lot of people didn't realise it. He would say 'Oh darling, I love you' and I would be like 'Oh, my heart's pounding'.

"We used to bounce off each other and give each other abuse. We flirted a bit and we kissed, but we were both single, so why not?"

Sinead's quirky sense of humour, down-to-earth attitude and musical talent inspired many viewers.

"So many kids have written to me saying that they got a guitar for Christmas and they want to learn how to play it," she says.

"When I started playing guitar, there was just me and one other girl in the whole school learning to play.

"I used to sit in at lunchtime and practice and practice. There weren't that many girls who were into it - there are a lot more now."

Sinead inspired viewers

Unlike previous TV talent shows Popstars and Pop Idol, Fame Academy boasted it was set up to nurture songwriting talent and musicianship.

Quinn says: "If my only option was to be in a girl band, I would've had it. I'm not a great dancer. I wouldn't have been up to scratch."

She credits the Academy with honing her talents: "Before I went in, I wouldn't have been into commercial stuff.

"I just really love lyrics and my tunes might not have been so radio-friendly, but I'm working on it. I wouldn't have got that much of a hook into my songs. I think the hook is very important."

I Can't Break Down will be followed by an album. Quinn's working on a clutch of new songs to accompany the ones she wrote in the Academy.

She is also looking forward to the Fame Academy tour, which kicks off in April.

"I can't wait. It's going to be so much fun," she says. "I remember going to see Kylie and thinking 'this is what I want to do'."

It's been a rollercoaster four months for Sinead, but it seems her dream is about to come true.

"A year ago, if I had been told all this was going to happen, I wouldn't have believed it. I probably would have laughed," she grins.