Sam Smith has been announced as the winner of the BRITs Critics' Choice Award, beating out fellow nominees Chloe Howl and Ella Eyre in the process.

Sam snagged the honour after a panel of music experts assembled from national newspapers, websites, radio and TV selected him out of the three nominees.

“I'm completely overwhelmed!” said Sam. “To see my name alongside the list of former winners, artists I admire so much it, is incredible. What an amazing Christmas present. Thank you.”

The accolade marks the end of a remarkable year for the singer. After guesting on Naughty Boy’s number one single La La La, he’s been performing gigs all over the world and was recently named one of our one’s to watch by being winning a coveted place on the MTV Brand New For 2014 shortlist.

Sam’s debut album is set to be released next spring but in the meantime you can catch him on television where he’ll make an appearance in ITV’s The BRITs Are Coming, where last year’s winner Tom Odell will present him with his awardon 9 January 2014.

Sam will also appear on a Critics’ Choice album, featuring past winners from the last six years. These include Adele, Florence and the Machine and Jessie J.