Bradford singer Mark Kerins wowed the nation to win a TV talent show - and booked himself a slot with one of the biggest pop bands of the moment, Steps.

Mark not only managed to slaughter the opposition on BBC TV's live show, Star for a Night, but so impressed Steps that they offered him the chance to support them at Wembley Arena.

With his head in his hands and tears in his eyes, Mark, of Wyke, was pronounced winner of the Saturday night show by a landslide victory.

With a staggering 153,914 votes the 24-year-old Leeds-Bradford airport worker defeated 11 other contestants, beating his nearest rival by more than 30,000 votes.

On hearing the announcement pop group Steps contacted the show to offer him a supporting slot on their Greatest Hits Tour at Wembley Arena.

Mark wowed celebrities and public alike with his rendition of Bill Withers' classic Lean On Me - the winner was decided by phone vote and even boy band Westlife admitted backing him.

After his storming victory Mark said: "I'm absolutely ecstatic - it's such fantastic news.

"I nearly dropped dead when they said how many votes I had. It just didn't register until I saw my family and I think I swore.

"It was very painful having to wait until the other eight contestants' results were read out to see if I had won.

"I want to thank the people of Bradford for voting for me. It is just such an amazing feeling to win. I have been in talks with some record companies so hopefully this will help me get signed."

Mark was contestant number four and as the results were announced he had an anxious wait to see if he had won.

Viewers saw the singer nervously clench Jane McDonald's hand prior to the winner being announced. She asked him how he felt and he replied: 'I can't answer that on air'.

He won the viewers' vote when, after performing his piece, he asked for a pint rather than the champagne on offer.

Mark was chosen from more than 12,000 applicants to compete for the coveted title in the show.

Last year's winner was offered a six-album record deal within 24 hours of winning and Mark is eagerly waiting for his phone to ring.

It is his dream to star on Top Of The Pops, but when he was on the show previously, former Take That manager, Nigel Martin-Smith, told him he was too overweight to make it.

Since then Mark has lost two stone in weight through dieting and exercise and made Nigel him eat his own words.

"I hope a record producer rushes him into the studio to record a big gospel-style Christmas single," said a humbled Nigel Martin-Smith.

Other celebrities were also impressed, as EastEnders star Barbara Windsor said: "The best person won."

Westlife's Nicky Byrne said Mark's performance was "brilliant."

"He had a very powerful voice and he deserved to win. He really won over the crowd as you can see in the huge margin in votes.

"He performed really well and should go far. I was backstage voting for Mark on my mobile!"

Before his Wembley debut, fans will get a chance to see Mark perform at Penningtons Live nightclub on Thursday, November 15, supporting comic Billy Pearce.