Queen fan Gary Mullen, 26, spoke the words "Tonight Matthew, I'm going to be Freddie Mercury" before his rendition of It's a Kind of Magic attracted 860,000 votes from show's audience.

Support for the Queen classic doubled the number who voted for Stephen Triffitt, a househusband from Weston-super-Mare who appeared as Frank Sinatra.

Career change

Mr Mullen, who is married with a young son, said he had been a huge Queen fan since he was a small boy.

"I just feel light-headed and shocked," he said after winning the ultimate karaoke crown.

"I feel really bad for everybody else.

"Before the show we all sat down and had a chat and a cup of tea together and said the result didn't matter - we just wanted to entertain everybody."

Mr Mullen, from Barrhead in Glasgow, said he now hoped the success would open the door to a full-time musical career.

"Freddie Mercury has been my lifelong hero. I have been singing his songs for years in my bathroom, but quietly.

"My other singing has been with a local band and in karaokes."

Gary admitted he bore little resemblance to his hero and praised the make-up artists for his transformation.

He said his friends would not have expected him to choose Freddie Mercury.

"When they heard I was going to be on all my pals asked whether I was going to be Phil Collins or Elton John because of my lack of hair."