X Factor winner Joe McElderry today said he was "pinching himself" as a reminder that he is not dreaming after his victory in the hit show.
The 18-year-old said being crowned winner last night was the "best experience" in his life.
* Click here to sign up to free news and sport email alerts from your YEP."I am still pinching myself, I cannot believe it, that I am sitting here, and that I have just won X Factor," he told GMTV.
* Click here for latest YEP music interviews and gig reviews."I think it is going to take a long time to sink in. It was just amazing, it has been the best experience of my life."
He added: "I just feel like I am in this dream and then it keeps hitting me."
The student from South Shields is now odds on to win the Christmas number one with his debut single The Climb after beating rival Olly Murs in the ITV1 show with almost two thirds of the 10 million votes.
His victory topped one of the most lucrative weekends in British broadcasting, with an extended results show creating prime advertising spots in front of an expected audience of 20 million.
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