Fans were left delighted after North East superstar James Arthur invited two couples to propose on stage during his sold out performance.

James, originally from Middlesbrough, won the X-Factor in 2012 and took to the stage at Newcastle's Utilita Arena as part of his Bitter Sweet Love world tour.

Performing hits from the roots of his career including audition song Young by Tulisa and his winner single Impossible, James was said to have fought back tears as he reminisced on his career.

The Northern Echo: Couples get engaged at Newcastle's James Arthur show.Couples get engaged at Newcastle's James Arthur show. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

However, fans were left shocked later in the show as James asked the audience if any couples wanted to get engaged at the gig - and two were swiftly brought up on stage to put a ring on it whilst he performed love song From the Jump.

 "We've never done this before", James can be heard saying as the first couple walked onto the stage pushed on by loud cheers from the audience.

Just seconds into the song, one husband-to-be can be seen getting down on one knee to the delight of the audience followed soon later by another man who popped the question to his bride-to-be.

Interrupting the performance, James said: "Well done, congrats!" and wished both couples the best as he hugged them goodbye.

James' Newcastle gig comes just months before he is due to rock the stage at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough, playing for his hometown crowd.

In an exclusive interview with The Northern Echo earlier this year, the megastar confessed he is eagerly anticipating the show on June 8, which is a "full circle moment".

He said: “I’ve been describing it as an album that’s in two parts. There’s the very raw singer-songwriter thing, an acoustic-led track or piano-led track, things like ‘Sleepwalking’ epitomise me as an acoustic artist, and ‘Freefalling,’ the piano balladeer within me.

“Whereas the other half, contains my punk influences, my rock-and-roll influences, there’s everything in there from Stereophonics, The Beatles, The Pixies, Nirvana, a lot of the things I love within all of that.

“It’s sort of, half of it, if James Arthur was a band, and the other half is the stripped-back version of me that the hardcore fans know of me from inception.

He added the upcoming performance feels like a “full circle moment.”

He said: “I’ve been describing it as an album that’s in two parts. There’s the very raw singer-songwriter thing, an acoustic-led track or piano-led track, things like ‘Sleepwalking’ epitomise me as an acoustic artist, and ‘Freefalling,’ the piano balladeer within me.

“I’ve had a lot of memories at [the Riverside] over the years, particularly as a young lad, going to the games. My life, at one point, was all about going to games on a Saturday, the Riverside was a safe space, it was a happy place for me.

“I never thought when I was walking through those turnstiles, a small cog in a very big wheel, that I would ever be the headline act at a place like that. It’s truly humbling, it’s a pinch me sort of thing, I can’t describe how that feels. I’m very proud of that.”

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Here's a list of James' upcoming dates: 

Mar 10 - Hull, UK @ Connexin Live SOLD OUT

Mar 13 - Glasgow, UK @ OVO Hydro SOLD OUT

Mar 15 - Manchester, UK @ Manchester AO Arena SOLD OUT

Mar 16 – London, UK @ Wembley OVO Arena SOLD OUT

Mar 19 – Nottingham, UK @ Motorpoint Arena

Mar 20 – Cardiff, UK @ Utilita Arena

Mar 22 – London, UK @ The O2