Last Year's The Voice Winner Speaks Out

The winner of the first UK series of The Voice, Leanne Mitchell, has spoken out about her unhappiness at the way she has been treated.

The 29-year-old was victorious on the BBC talent show last year - but has been criticised by coach Danny O'Donoghue since.

She tweeted: "Ever get the feeling you've been used as the scapegoat?

"I have had to read and listen to so much about me recently, and so far have kept quiet.

"For the record, I'd written and finished the majority of my album by the end of last summer, around September time... I don't know why it was decided to wait so long to release it, but unfortunately, being very new to all this and probably too naive, I had to trust the people around me in making the right decisions.

"I have absolutely worked my backside off to WRITE this album, not copping out on all covers. And as some people have speculated, I absolutely wanted and still want to work for it."

And she insisted that she had been reluctant to argue her case in public.

"I have worked bloody hard since the age of 13 doing what I love, and felt that maybe it would have all been worth it for this past year.

"I wonder if everyone that has said/written negative things about me have even listened to the album? Again, unfortunately, I don't think anyone was particularly on my side from the start.

"I never wanted to speak up, as I suppose the next thing will be I'm 'bitter', which I'm not, at all. I LOVE being a singer, and music will always be everything to me, on whatever level that may be, and that makes me happy.

"I still feel very lucky to have experienced what I have in the past year, and if people actually gave me a chance, and didn't judge me one what has been said or written, maybe they'd see some people are just in it for the music."

Meanwhile, this year's winner Andrea Begley has declared that she wants to get her debut album out in time for Christmas this year.

Speaking on This Morning, she said: "I'm quite busy for the next few months. The idea is to get an album together pretty quickly and I met the label yesterday to discuss what we are going to do and at the moment I have some of my own material which I'd like to try and get on to the new album and hopefully get something out in the shops before Christmas.

"Everybody is obviously aware that last year things didn't go maybe as well as they could've done, and I think lessons have been learnt. And certainly it's important I think to build on things at the moment and get something out there soon - hopefully that will turn things this year."

SEE MORE SNAPS FROM THE VOICE 2012 HERE!

SEE MORE SNAPS FROM THE VOICE 2013 HERE!