Cumbria's Jolan Gidney-Craigen came second in The Voice UK final but has said all along the experience has only made him more determined to make music.

The 22-year-old of Moor Row, near Whitehaven, gave it his all in three show stopping performances in the final of the BBC singing contest. 

He performed Marvin Gaye's Heard It Through The Grapevine and then Are You Gonna Go My Way by Lenny Kravitz with his mentor Ricky Wilson before a "flawless" performance of the winner's single All You Good Friends.

But it was fellow Team Ricky contestant Kevin Simm, of former pop band Liberty X, who took the crown.

Jolan said: "What an amazing guy Kevin is. I couldn't wish anybody better to win it."

Presenter Emma Willis said: "You've become great friends haven't you?"

"He's like an older grandad," joked Jolan. 

Ricky, frontman of Kaiser Chiefs, is backing Jolan's dream. He said: "I've loved having Jolan and I've already got something in place for him."

Earlier in the show he said: “I think he gives most of the greatest singers on the planet at the moment a run for their money."

Commenting after Jolan sang the winner's single he said: "You can't disagree with a voice like that." 

"I've said it before and I'll say it again - flawless."

"You'll always sing. It was what you were born to do," said fellow Judge Boy George.

Jolan has come along way in two years and it was a very different story when he first auditioned for The Voice UK in 2014.

He failed to tempt any of the judges to turn any of their chairs when he performed Beneath Your Beautiful by Labrinth.

This time he sailed through the blind auditions, battle rounds, knock-outs and live shows and was one of the last one's standing.