The Brits have revealed the nominees for next year’s Critics’ Choice Award.

The three-strong shortlist is made up of singer and model Dua Lipa, Garage MC turned singer-songwriter Rag’n'Bone Man and Sean Paul collaborator Anne-Marie.

Rag’n'Bone Man – the soulful singing alter-ego of Brighton-born Rory Graham – said the nomination was “bonkers”.

“Absolutely bonkers, I’ve been grafting, I built a strong fan base over the years with help from good people that put their faith in me. And now this. I’m very grateful.”

Brit Award
The Zaha Hadid award, one of the final commissions of her career (Brit Awards/PA)

Dua Lipa, the daughter of Albanian parents who fled the Kosovan capital of Pristina in the early 1990s during regional bloodshed, hit number one in Belgium last year for her debut single Be The One.

She said: “I couldn’t believe it when I got the news. This is the highlight of my year.”

Anne-Marie, whose collaboration on Rockabye with Clean Bandit and Sean Paul is currently top of the UK single charts, called her nomination “sick”.

Anne Marie
Anne-Marie ( Ian West/PA)

The trio will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of previous winners Adele, James Bay, Emeli Sande and Jessie J.

The 2017 Critics’ Choice Award winner will be announced on Thursday December 8.

The award is open to any British artist set to release their debut album next year.