Awards-shy Nutini has chip shop to fall back on

Paolo Nutini does not make music to win awards.

The Scottish singer – whose second album 'Sunny Side Up' went straight to the top of the charts when it was released last June and returned to the number one slot twice this year – has been nominated for a BRIT but he says the awards are not really that important to him.

He said: "It's nice to get the nominations, but I don't write songs to win awards. I'll enjoy myself at the BRITs, and if I win something, all the better."

The 23-year-old Scot – who is also nominated for best British male alongside Dizzee Rascal, Calvin Harris, Mika and Robbie Williams - said he couldn't explain why his music had suddenly become so popular again.

He said: "I'm not sure why it's become such a big hit again. Maybe it didn't register with people at first."

If he doesn't win at the BRITs or continue with a successful music career, the singer joked he could always join the family's chip shop business.

He said: "My parents never stood in my way. Dad gave me the impression that the shop would always be there for me to fall back on."