SPACEMAN star Sam Ryder gave a stellar performance in Colchester including busking for fans in a shopping centre.

The singer, who shot to prominence earlier this year when he represented Great Britain at the Eurovision Song Contest, concluded a nationwide tour of the country with a homecoming gig in Colchester on Wednesday evening.

As part of an event at HMV Colchester, Sam, who lives in Brightlngsea, met hundreds of fans, posing for photos and signing albums before then going on to perform in Culver Square shopping centre with a crowd joining in with the lyrics of classics Radio Ga Ga and Signed, Sealed, Delivered as well as his own now famous hit Space Man.

Though music has long been a passion of Ryder’s, it was only this year that he shot to global fame his second-place finish at Eurovision was the best from a UK representative since 1997.

Speaking to the Gazette after his performance on Wednesday evening, Sam, 33, said being recognised everywhere he goes in Essex is something he is starting to get used to, adding it allows him to thank his fans for his breakthrough.

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He said: “I understand that it’s part of what I’m doing now.

“Having a career in music and, dare I say it, it looks like it’s a successful one at the moment, that’s part of it.

“It’s not the reason I want to do it though I much prefer being in a quiet countryside having a walk and stroll around, but I love having that opportunity being able to go around and say thank you.

“Ultimately, that’s what this is signing records and doing some busking out on the street; the intention is not for it to be self-serving in any way.

“We want to rally people who have supported and see what we can do and see what else we can achieve together, because a number one record isn’t a number one record for the artist, it’s a number one record for the team.”

Earlier this week, the Official Charts Company confirmed Sam’s debut album There’s Nothing But Space, Man!’ could hit number one in the UK before the end of the year.