X Factor 2013 winner Sam Bailey to join Beyonce on UK tour next year

The newly-crowned champion has been invited to sing as support in February

Sam Bailey performs 'Bleeding Love' by Leona Lewis (ITV/Rex Features)

This year's winner of The X Factor, Sam Bailey, will be joining US pop queen Beyonce on the second UK leg of her Mrs Carter Show World Tour in February, the "Irreplaceable" singer has announced.

"Hey, I just wanna say good luck to all The X Factor finalists and announce a very special prize to the winner," the one-time Destiny's Child star said in a video message recorded herself prior to Sunday's talent show final.

"The winner of this year's X Factor will be joining me on the Mrs Carter tour, coming back to Europe in February. I can't wait to see you soon, good luck!"

Sam Bailey, a 36-year old prison guard from Leicester, beat Nicholas McDonald, 17, to the title after receiving the most public votes in the closing showdown.

She will now release her winner's single, a cover of "Skyscraper" by Demi Lovato, in a bid for the Christmas number one.

Nicholas' single would have been a cover of Five For Fighting's 2001 hit "Superman".

Sam Bailey performs 'Bleeding Love' by Leona Lewis (ITV./Rex Features) (ITV/Rex Features)

Big-haired busker Luke Friend came third in the competition, leaving on Saturday night.

High profile acts to perform on this weekend's final included The Killers, Elton John, Gary Barlow, Katy Perry and One Direction.

Beyonce, meanwhile, surprised fans with an impromptu release of her fifth self-titled studio album on Friday.

In the official press statement, the label described the release as “an unprecedented strategic move by the artist to deliver music and visual content directly to her fans when she wants to and how she wants to, with no filter".