Emile Sande

EMELI SANDE says her life is like a dream after selling more than a million copies of her debut album Our Version of Events in the UK. The achievement tops an incredible year for the former medical student from Aberdeenshire, described by Simon Cowell as his “favourite songwriter of the minute”. Her album is the only one to reach the million mark in Britain this year. Emeli, right, told The Razz: “I’ve had such a wonderful year and to round it off by hearing that my album has sold a million copies is just incredible, it’s the stuff of dreams. “When you write music you want it to be heard by as many people as possible so it really feels great to reach a milestone like this. “I’ve had so many amazing experiences performing my music all over the world now and it all started in Scotland for me. “Playing at the Aberdeen Music Hall, T in the Park and the Armadillo, carrying the Olympic torch, singing all over the country during the Torch Run and meeting kids being helped by Nordoff Robbins are all highlights that I’ll always remember. “The people at home in Scotland have been behind me from when I started out. It means so much to have that support and I’m very grateful” Emeli has penned songs with a variety of names including Cher Lloyd, Susan Boyle, Leona Lewis, Alesha Dixon, Cheryl Cole and Tinie Tempah. Next up for her is the final of The X Factor on Sunday, where she will play forthcoming single Clown. Emeli will headline a 14-date tour of the US in January before Clown is released on February 4.

The UK's sporting prowess could send Brit-winning star Emeli Sande back to number one in the album chart after being given a boost by the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year. Retailer HMV said sales of her album Our Version Of Events have soared after Sande - who featured in the Olympic opening and closing ceremonies - appeared in the BBC broadcast on Sunday night. The programme also seems to have given a major uplift to sales of the official DVDs of both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The BBC1 show, watched by an average audience of 10.6 million, saw cyclist Bradley Wiggins take the ultimate prize, with heptathlete Jessica Ennis named runner-up. Following the broadcast sales of the BBC's Olympics DVD have risen by 269% and sales of Channel 4's Paralympics DVD have risen by 144%, according to HMV.