X Factor winner Joe McElderry has said he was "pinching himself" as a reminder that he is not dreaming after his victory in the hit show.
The 18-year-old said being crowned winner was the "best experience" in his life.
"I am still pinching myself, I cannot believe it, that I am sitting here, and that I have just won X Factor," he told GMTV.
"I think it is going to take a long time to sink in. It was just amazing, it has been the best experience of my life."
He added: "I just feel like I am in this dream and then it keeps hitting me."
The student from South Shields is now odds on to win the Christmas number one with his debut single The Climb after beating rival Olly Murs with almost two thirds of the 10 million votes.
The teenager said it had been a "really close" call between himself and Olly Murs and each had been convinced the other was going to win.
"Olly is fantastic as well. Me and Olly both thought each other was going to win," he said.
Asked about reports that Simon Cowell will take him to Hollywood in the New Year, to tie up a £5m deal to turn him into the "next Zac Efron", McElderry said: "I have not heard about this, this is news to me. I wouldn't turn it down if that was the case."
He added that he would "definitely go" to the US and do some acting if he was invited.
Asked about his album, and whether he would do a duet with Cheryl Cole, his mentor, he said: "I think we will have to sit down and have a meeting about everything that is going to happen. I haven't got a clue what is going to happen yet."
He said Cole had come to his sound checks and rehearsals and had rung and texted him to make sure he was "comfortable".
He said: "I think it was just a really emotional night because me and Olly both wanted to win so much.
"For the judges, having to sit and watch people fighting for their dream it must be hard for them to know that one of them is not going to win."
He said his duet with George Michael had been "unbelievable."
McElderry was not able to toast his win with a celebratory drink until Monday morning.
He told This Morning that "his first drink was this glass of champagne on your show".
The win had still not sunk in, he said, adding: "It still hasn't. It's like I'm floating. It's like a dream."
"I literally nearly collapsed. My head was just spinning."
He added: "I've had two hours sleep but I'm on such a buzz it doesn't matter. I don't care."
The sixth series of The X Factor has attracted its biggest ever audience, with a record 19.1 million watching Joe McElderry win the show.
The peak of 19.1 million (62% of the TV audience) is a huge rise from the 14.6 million who saw Alexandra Burke declared winner at the finale of last year's show.
Missed The X Factor final? To have your say and catch up on previous episodes, visit The X Factor.
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