CHART-TOPPING George Ezra will play Leeds First Direct Arena for the first time on March 8 next year.

Tickets will go on sale on Friday at 9am at firstdirectarena.com for Ezra's return to Yorkshire after playing a joyous Forest Live set at Dalby Forest, near Pickering, in aid of the Forestry Commission's conservation programmes on June 24, as well as his upcoming show at Don Valley Bowl, Sheffield, on Saturday.

"We’re going on tour, and not just any tour, but the biggest run of dates that I will have ever played," says the 25-year-old Hertford singer-songwriter.

"Touring these new songs, along with all of the first album, has meant that the last year has been the most amazing 12 months imaginable. To all of you that have made a show so far, thank you. And to all of you that we will see next year, hold tight! Get practising those songs, polishing off your dancing shoes; let’s make it one to remember."

Ezra already has another British tour ahead of him this autumn, when his six sold-out dates include Hull Bonus Arena on November 10 after his European travels in September and October.

Ezra's second album, Staying At Tamara’s, is the biggest seller in Britain this year, entering in the top spot in March and remaining in the top five in the official chart 20 weeks after release, while Shotgun gave him his first number one single in June.

His second chart topper after Wanted On Voyage reached the summit in 2014, Staying At Tamara features the platinum-selling single Paradise, a number two hit earlier this year, plus such crowd favourites as Hold My Girl, Pretty Shining People, Saviour and Don’t Matter Now.

Ezra's podcast series George Ezra & Friends is doing well too, with Ezra being joined by a musician friend for an often intimate, funny and revealing one-to-one conversation on each show. Series One concluded with a no-holds barred chat with Sir Elton John after earlier episodes with Ed Sheeran, Lily Allen, Sam Smith, Craig David, Rag’n’Bone Man and London Grammar’s Hannah Reid.