Sampha Sisay has won the Mercury Prize 2017, beating some of the biggest names in British music to the top spot.

Recording under the name Sampha, his debut studio album Process was deemed better than this year’s offerings from Ed Sheeran, Stormzy and alt-J.

On collecting the winner’s trophy and cheque for £25,000, Sampha said it was “incredible”, thanking the judges and dedicating the award to his parents and his brothers.

He then performed a second rendition of the song (Nobody Knows Me) Like the Piano to a standing ovation.

The judging panel said: “Sampha’s Process is a beautifully intimate record. With its unique creativity, rich musicality, depth and vulnerability, it resonates emotionally and speaks to the heart. When you discover this record, you’ll want to live with it, share it and celebrate it.”

The show featured performances from all the other artists on the Album of the Year shortlist as well as from Skepta, the 2016 winner.

Sampha, 28, was born in Morden to Sierra Leonean parents, and found his way to music by learning piano at home.

Later, his older brother made himself a home studio and he discovered music production.

While at Ewell Castle School he was an active member of a lot of bands and musical ensembles, and completed A Levels including Music.

His Music teacher, Miss Brack, said: “I remember him playing the piano, being a vocalist in the school jazz band as well as singing solos in the school recitals and choir. I always knew he was bound for stardom someday. I remember him having a natural, soulful voice even as a teenager.”

Mrs Hillman, who taught Sampha Religious Studies, said: “He often gained the highest grades in class and was someone who even then, thought very deeply about the big questions in life, and was able to express his ideas very coherently.”

Since then he has worked with such artists as Drake, Jessie Ware and Solange, and just weeks ago won Breakthrough Act of the Year at the Association of Independent Music Awards.