Teenage British singer Tom Andrews signed up by Ellen DeGeneres

US chat show host Ellen DeGeneres has given a British teenager his big break by signing him to her new record label.

Tom Andrews, 16, received a call from the presenter after she saw a video of him online.

She has now given the chart hopeful, from Exeter in Devon, a foot on the ladder to stardom by featuring him on her show - and making him the second signing to her label eleveneleven.

Former American Idol judge DeGeneres launched the label this year with 12-year-old YouTube sensation Greyson Chance. His album is due out this year.

Andrews has previously supported indie outfit The Noisettes on tour when he was only 15.

He made his debut on the Ellen show with a rendition of James Brown's It's A Man's Man's Man's World.

The teenager was accompanied to the TV recording by his parents, who sat in the audience.

And chatting to her young hopeful, whom she spotted on YouTube, DeGeneres said: "I just called you out of the blue and said 'I'm Ellen and come here ..."

Andrews said he had only discovered his talent in the past few years.

"I started when I was 13," he said, adding that he had tried "karaoke and stuff" while on holiday.

After unveiling her new protege, she delighted the singer with a gift of new headphones and and an iPad.