The winner of ITV singing competition, The Voice, was crowned on Saturday night (October 26) with Bristol contestant Ava taking the top prize. Ava, who grew up in the Fishponds, Downend and Frenchay areas of Bristol, attended schools including Chester Park Infant School, Hambrook Primary School and Winterbourne Academy.
According to local publication, the Fishponds Voice, the 21-year-old first performed on stage for St Mary’s Players, the drama group founded by members of the Fishponds church of the same name, who rehearse in Staple Hill. She described the area as still feeling like “a piece of home”.
Ava worked at dog groomers, Top Groom, in Downend before entering the competition. Taking to the stage during the second episode of the ‘blind auditions’, she performed ‘Damn Your Eyes’ by Etta James, which saw all coaches turn their chairs for her, beginning with the coaching duo she ended up teaming up with – McFly’s Tom Fletcher and Danny Jones.
Making it all the way through to Saturday night’s final, which showcased a brand new format for the show, she performed again for all of the coaches (who also included Sir Tom Jones, Will.i.am, and LeAnn Rimes). Unlike previous years where the audience at home have been able to call in and vote for their favourite to win, this year it was solely the responsibility of the coaches and the studio audience to decide the winner, in a pre-recorded final – the result of which has been a carefully guarded secret for months.
During the final episode of the hit talent show, which is now on its 13th series, finalists Ava, Deb Orah, Billy & Louie, and Storry, took to the stage to battle it out for the title. Marking their first win as a coaching pair, McFly’s Danny and Tom were thrilled to hear Ava’s name called out as the winner.
Taking to Instagram after the show, Danny Jones wrote: “Beyond proud of our incredible AVA for winning The Voice UK! Her talent, insane voice and dedication shine brighter than ever, and I can’t wait to get working on some music with ya. The best is yet to come!
“Me and @tomfletcher have had the best time on @thevoiceuk and are super lucky to have found such an insane talent. AVA WE LOVE YA! Go follow @madhatcat“.
Meanwhile, Tom Fletcher penned: “SHE DID IT!!! I think this photo sums up the love Danny and I have for @madhatcat. What a journey! Honestly, I can’t tell you how proud I am of Ava. She is everything The Voice is about – pure undiscovered talent that just needed to be heard!
“Getting to be a coach on the voice has been such an awesome experience and the moment we turned and saw that spark in Ava’s eyes we knew there was something special about her. Aside from having a voice that can literally bring me to tears over and over again, she’s also the loveliest person who so deserves this opportunity and I hope it brings her everything she wants.
“So please stream/download her song and give your @thevoiceuk champion all your love and support!”
As this year’s winner, Ava walked away with a recording deal with Universal, as well as a £50,000 cash prize, and a holiday to Universal Resort, Orlando, the Mirror reports.