成人论坛

Chris Hardman shot to fame courtesy of Rock School, the Channel 4 programme in which Gene Simmons took a group of school children and turned them into a rock group capable of supporting his band Kiss.

A solo venture followed and Lil' Chris was celebrating top 10 chart success in 2006 with his debut single - Checkin' It Out.

A full album was recorded soon after and Lil' Chris went on to spend 2007 cementing his position as a bona fide pop star - appearing regularly on television as well as in animated film Surf's Up and, of course, on stage in front of his adoring fans.

His progress has been recognised by the BT Digital Music Awards, where he's been nominated in two categories: "It's amazing - it's the first time I've been nominated for anything so it's really exciting for me," Lil' Chris told 成人论坛 Radio Suffolk's Stephen Foster.

"I'm up for Best Pop Artist against Mika, Natasha Bedingfield, Simon Webb and The Hoosiers.

"I'm also up for Best Breakthrough Act, which is decided by judges. I don't know who they are but I want to so I can be really nice to them!"

Too cool for (rock) school

Lil' Chris will find out whether he's been successful when he attends the award ceremony at Camden's Roundhouse on 2 October: "It's going to be awesome," he says.

"I'm a bit gutted I'm not 18 yet to enjoy the free drink! But I'll be able to enjoy the food and maybe win something."

It's unlikely that Chris will be tucking into courgettes though. They, like prawn sandwiches to Roy Keane, seem to have become synonymous with the type of suited industry types who attend award ceremonies.

"I'm used to performing in front of screaming girls but I was performing in front of professional sitter-downers!" Chris says of the last time he performed at an award ceremony.

"I was performing in front of people just sat at tables, drinking champagne and enjoying their courgettes, or whatever them posh people do!"

Lil' Chris's guide to having a good time

So posh people enjoy champagne and courgettes, and a good time for everyone else involves getting naked. Right?

"The new single's We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off," Chris explains. "It was originally by Jermaine Stewart in 1986 but I don't remember it.

"The first time I heard it was at a children's nightclub in Lowestoft - I thought it was a Prince track. I got corrected about a year ago and I've loved the track ever since."

However much Chris enjoys living the highlife, he's still got a soft spot for his home county and already has plans to return to Suffolk to play live.

"Whenever I get time off I like to go to Suffolk, but at the moment I'm living nearer to London," the former Kirkley High student adds before making a promise to his home fans.

"As soon as we start gigging we'll come to Suffolk."
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UPDATE: Lil' Chris missed out on any silverware at the award ceremony. Natasha Bedingfield received the populist vote for Best Artist, while Enter Shikari got the judges' nod for Breakthrough Artist.