Rag'n'Bone Man wins Brits Critics' Choice Awards 2017
Blues singer-songwriter Rag'n'Bone Man has won the Critics' Choice Award for the 2017 Brits.
The artist, real name Rory Graham, follows in the footsteps of past winners such as Adele, Sam Smith and Florence + the Machine as the next newcomer to watch.
Graham had been shortlisted alongside Essex-born Anne-Marie and model-turned-singer Dua Lipa, winning with his debut single Human.
The Brighton-born bluesman, 31, is expected to release a full album early next year.
He takes inspiration from blues legends Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker.
Graham chose his stage name after watching episodes of Steptoe and Son, the sitcom about a father and son who run a rag-and-bone business.
He thought Rag'n'Bone Man sounded like the names of his classic blues heroes.
This year, he sold out the Electric Brixton and took the stage at Glastonbury and Lovebox music festivals.
He came to public attention in 2012, after his girlfriend sent promoters videos of him singing on the toilet.
"I didn't know anything about it but I'm pretty glad she did send them in," he said.
"I made some of my early recordings while sitting on the toilet and it turned out that she sent those in as well. They seemed to like it though."
The Critics' Choice Award was launched in 2008, and is chosen by a panel of music industry experts, music editors and key figures from radio and TV.
Graham will be presented with his award at the Brit Awards nominations launch event on 14 January.