Jodie, 28, is shellshocked after Saturday's live grand final, watched by 6.9m viewers and landing the plum role of Nancy in a revival of Oliver!

"I still can't believe it," said Jodie, of Newton Drive, who burst into tears when presenter Graham Norton named her the winner.

"It is just so much to take in. I just thought 'this can't be true'.

Jodie IS Nancy

"How often in a lifetime does a dream come true. Now mine has. I am just so, so lucky."

And she also wants to thank her supporters: "Thank you a trillion times to everyone who voted for me, to everyone in Blackpool for supporting me.

"The support, encouragement and kindness I have had is so humbling and so overwhelming.

"When I am Nancy on that West End stage I will go out there and give it 110 per cent every night, I owe that to each and every one who voted for me."

Back home her friends and family gathered together at the home of Sharon Sanders on Westmorland Avenue for a special Vote Jodie party.

There were cheers as John Barrowman and Denise Van Outen declared their support of Jodie, and jeers, as the other judges opted for Jessie.

But when host Graham Norton announced the 28-year-old Blackpool favourite as the winner, the room exploded.

Jodie's friends and fans have spent every weekend out on the streets championing their Nancy.

And at the party on Saturday night they spent their hard-earned cash on a stream of votes.

Sam Haysom, 30, who has organised the events, said: "She deserves it so much. Every week she has taken on board what the judges have said and worked on her performance and come back bigger and better.

"It's been an absolute rollercoaster of an evening but the next step is for us all to plan a trip down to London to watch Jodie in the show."

Samantha's sister Georgina Coster, 26, of Brun Grove, Blackpool, added: "We've all been going out drumming up support for her every weekend and it's unbelievable to know she's going to be a big star."

Sharon Sanders, who hosted the Vote Jody party, said: "We've had a brilliant evening."

Jodie's rise to stardom – Eve special tomorrow