SINGER Anastasia Quinton-Smith and artist Duncan Shoosmith have had their moment in the TV spotlight after making it to the finals of two popular shows.

Former St John's School pupil Miss Quintin-Smith, who grew up in Great Bedwyn, and Mr Shoosmith, 49, from Marlborough were delighted with their performances.

But only Mr Shoosmith got to take home the top prize after winning Sky Arts Portrait Artist Of The Year. He won £50,000 and a £10,000 commission to paint legendary singer Tom Jones.

Yesterday evening after the showed was aired Sir Tom tweeted his congratulations.

Miss Quinton-Smith watched the final of BBC's All Together Now with friends on Saturday evening already knowing that she had fallen at the final hurdle. But this week she remained upbeat.

She said: "It was just an awesome experience. I have no regrets at all. Everyone on the show was really lovely and I have made some lifelong friends among the other competitors."

Judge and former Spice Girl Geri Horner criticised her song choice of U2's With Or Without You which only got 41 of the 100 judging panel on their feet and was not enough to win her a chair among the top three contestants.

But Miss Quinton-Smith, 26, said: "I agree the choice of song was not the best but it was chosen by the producers. I was trying to get them to change it. You are given a couple of songs to choose from but I didn't think any of them were right. When I came off stage one of the voice coaches actually apologised to me for making me sing it.

"At the time I thought the criticism of the way I sang must have been right but when I listened to it back I thought it was good and the best I could have done with that song. But everyone on the show including Geri and Rob Beckett were lovely. They all wanted us to do well."

She also revealed how she has dealt with criticism on social media. She said: "Overall around 90 per cent has been positive but I make a point of replying to all the messages even if they are saying I am terrible.

"I am a strong person and I don't let it affect me. But when you message back people usually back down."

She was full of praise for winner Shellyann Evans and said: "She was incredible. I know that whatever I had sung I could not have beaten her."

She said after the final was filmed all the contestants partied until the early hours in Manchester and ended up in a casino.

Mr Shoosmith, a former pupil of Marlborough College, was delighted with his win. He said: "The atmosphere was different to earlier rounds with just three of you there is no room to hide and I wanted to paint a portrait that justified my place in the final."

He said that Sir Tom was an excellent sitter but painting him was a struggle. He said: "I found sketching Tom genuinely the biggest struggle of the whole experience."