'BGT' winner Colin Thackery to donate winnings to veteran residents of Royal Hospital Chelsea

Britain’s Got Talent winner Colin Thackery has revealed he plans to use part of his £250,000 winnings to help his fellow war veterans at Royal Hospital Chelsea.

The 89-year-old Chelsea Pensioner - who marched to victory in the ITV talent show last night with his rendition of Michael Ball’s Love Changes Everything - wants to spend his prize money on the south London retirement and nursing home for former members of the British Army.

Asked how he planned to spend the prize Thackery told ITV’s This Morning: “First of all the hospital, because we are a charity you know, and we’re always collecting for something. And we’ve got a new centre that we’re wanting to build, a visitor’s centre, an activity centre. I’d love to think that I set the whole thing off.

Read more: Britain's Got Talent: Chelsea Pensioner Colin Thackery 'to get record deal'

“And of course I’ve got family, I’ve got grandchildren wanting to get on the property ladder and all that sort of thing.”

The retired soldier has also won the chance to sing for The Queen at the Royal Variety Performance 2019.

Thackery said: “That is the zenith, that’s the ultimate.”

He said previously: "I served my Queen for 25 years, so if I thought I would have the chance to sing to her, I would die a happy man.”

Thackery won hearts across the UK with his story of wanting to compete in tribute to his late wife, who he had loved to sing with.

Read more: 'Britain's Got Talent's' Marc Spelmann, aka X, called show 'a mockery of entertainment'

The war veteran - who fought off competition from magicians X and Ben Hart in the final three on Sunday night - is also thought to be on his way to bagging a record deal.

According to The Sun, an industry insider said that Sony Music execs believe Thackery has even more potential and they would love to cash in by releasing an album with him in the next few months.

If Thackery does land a record deal, label bosses will be hoping he follows the success of previous acts discovered by the show including Susan Boyle, Paul Potts, and The D-Day Darlings.