IT seems there is no stopping Ellie Goulding.

Three years ago she was the one to watch when she became the only artist after Adele to top the BBC’s annual Sound Of poll and win the Critics’ Choice Award at the Brit Awards.

Now she is a chart-topping pop singer who has sold four million albums and 15 million singles worldwide.

Her rise to fame has been phenomenal. She has performed her version of Elton John’s Your Song at Prince William and Kate’s wedding at Buckingham Palace and has even sung at the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the White House.

Her debut album Lights was released in March 2010 and topped the charts in its first week of release.

At the end of last year came Halcyon, the album inspired by her break up with BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James, which ditched the gentle folky electronic for a more dance based sound.

She got her first number one single with Burn, which was released among ten extra tracks on the repackaged deluxe edition of her second album Halcyon Days.

And the 26-year-old singer songwriter has spent most of the year touring internationally.

But now she is preparing to come to Southampton to take to the stage of the O2 Guildhall Southampton tomorrow as part of a short autumn tour that marks a welcome return to the UK.

And according to Ellie, who is from a village in Hereford, it is performing on UK soil that gives her most pleasure.

“It’s a warmer feeling generally,” she said.

This week the reception she has received in the UK couldn’t be much warmer with news her track How Long Will I Love You is 2013’s Children in Need single.

Coming hot on the heels of Burn, her song will be the official single for this year’s appeal and will help raise money to support disadvantaged children and young people in the UK.

Ellie couldn’t be any happier.

“I’ve grown up watching BBC Children in Need so it’s fantastic that I’m doing this year’s single!”, she said.

“It’s an emotional song, but in a really positive way, and I’ve been completely blown away with the positive reaction it’s had already.”

The singer, who said she is inspired by the people around her- musicians and wise people- will perform the ballad live during the appeal show on Friday, November 15.

She will then prepare for her first ever arena tour playing her biggest venues to date in March 2014.

But despite her intense schedule, Ellie, who has 1.9 million Twitter followers, said it’s vital to always make time for herself and never forget who she is.

“I do work really hard but I stay at a level that I’m comfortable and happy with.

“Now I’ve reached a point where I can brush off things and have no baggage and just do what I want to do.

“I’m not in that position any more where I have to impress people who’ve never heard of me before. I’m relaxed and I can just tour.

“I genuinely never wanted to be a superstar. It never really occurred to me that would be possible. I’m grateful everyday”, she said.