Dog act Ashleigh and Pudsey won the Britain’s Got Talent grand final tonight, beating off stiff competition from runners-up, opera duo Jonathan and Charlotte, and male choir Only Boys Aloud, who placed third.

The super cute pooch act, which featured 17-year-old Ashleigh and six-year-old Pudsey, won the 2012 series after voters got on the dog and bone in their droves, to name the act their favourite from this year’s show.

After hearing ther news, a tearful but delighted Ashley told hosts Ant and Dec: “I want to say a massive thank you to everyone that voted for me, I’m so proud of Pudsey it means so much!”

Ashleigh and Pudsey have been hugely popular with viewers ever since their first audition, and breezed through the other stages of the contest, securing the most public votes during their semi-final round earlier this week.

Nevertheless, the result was a slight shock, as opera duo Jonathan and Charlotte had been tipped as the favourites to lift the championship tonight, right from their very first audition when the teens received a standing ovation from the judges for their stunning rendition of classical song The Prayer.

They followed it up with an even better rendition of Caruso during the semi-finals, also winning the most votes during their semi-final round, before returning with their audition song, The Prayer, again for tonight’s final.

The opera duo looked set to win the winners’ title on tonight’s show, but it wasn’t to be, and they made it to the still very respectable second place. Former BGT runners-up include Scottish songstress Susan Boyle, who has gone on to enjoy a hugely successful music career – and we’re sure we haven’t seen the last of Jonathan and Charlotte either!

The other acts who competed in tonight’s grand final were: solo singer Sam Kelly, dance troupe Nu Sxool, male choir Only Boys Aloud, young singer Molly Rainford, boy band Loveable Rogues, Latin American ballroom dancers Kai and Natalia, solo singer Ryan O’Shaughnessy and synchronised swimmers Aquabatique, as well as wild card act The Mend, who rejoined the show tonight after the judges voted them back in.

MUCH MORE TALENT:

• Ashleigh and Pudsy win BGT 2012
• Check out their cute final performance
• Jonathan and Charlotte are the runners-up
• Check out their stunning final performance
• Only Boys Aloud are third
• More on their amazing final performance
• Much more from BGT

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