Sam Smith is heading into the studio to record his second LP.

Sam Smith at V Festival

Sam Smith at V Festival

The 'Lay Me Down' hitmaker told festival-goers at Virgin Media's V Festival in Chelmsford, Essex on Saturday (22.08.15) that the festival is the last UK date he will play before he begins work on the follow-up to his debut album 'In The Lonely Hour'.

Before launching into hit single 'Stay With Me', he told the crowd: "V Festival is one of my favourite festivals to play. I will be heading into the studio to make my second album, so V is the last UK dates before I go and make my second record."

The 23-year-old singer became very emotional halfway through his set and opened up about the person who broke his heart and inspired the album.

Before performing 'Not In That Way' he explained: "I like to take this time in the show to talk a little bit about who this record is about, what inspired this album ... Basically, I fell in love with a guy three years ago and he completely broke my heart. I was in love with him and he didn't love me back. And it wasn't a very nice situation for me.

"The only way for me to get over that and get through that was to write this record. It's actually really helped me, I've been on tour now for the last three years. I've gone from feeling these songs, so completely in my chest and in my heart and singing them, to finally getting over him, which is a good thing. And now it's a little bit hard sometimes to sing these songs. And these songs are now no longer my songs they are your songs."

V Festival saw the likes of James Bay, Kasabian, George Ezra and Ellie Goulding play to thousands of music lovers, with Sam's pal Gregory Porter also being applauded following his performance by celebrity fans such as Conor Maynard and Ella Henderson.

V Festival 2016 will take place at Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire on the 20th & 21st August next summer.

Tickets will be on pre-sale for 21 days from Friday 28th August at 9.21am, with early birds enjoying £42 off a weekend ticket. For more information and to buy tickets for the V Festival's #V21st visit: www.vfestival.com.