MONDAY night promises to be a more than usually nerve wracking occasion for Craig David. (23/2/01)

You might think the Southampton lad-cum-international superstar had enough to get nervous about already - like clinging on for dear life to the exalted position his uncommon talent, not to mention a bestselling album and brace of number one singles - has propelled him to in little more than a year.

But next week, the brightest of the millennium's bright young things will be performing an exclusive set before the music industry's top brass at the Brit Awards in Earls Court - and anxiously waiting to see whether the record six awards he has been nominated for will be his.

It would be incredible if he wasn't feeling a little jittery under the circumstances.

But, whatever his feelings, you can count on one thing - he won't be giving anything away.

As anyone who has seen or heard Craig being interviewed, or watched him performing, will tell you that one of the teenage pop star's main characteristics is the almost Zenlike focused calm with which he seems to approach everything. He's so laidback I can imagine him simply floating out of bed in the morning.

This year is set to keep Southampton's most famous export in the public eye, thanks to a new single, Rendezvous (released on March 17), a UK arena tour - including two Bournemouth dates - and a visit to the US, where he has already struck a lucrative deal with Atlantic Records. On top of all that, the wonderboy is promising a "surprise collaboration", to be announced later this year.

Whether you like his music or not - and the jury is still out in some quarters - there's no denying the passion and commitment he brings to his craft.

Southampton city councillors should certainly be thanking him for putting Southampton more firmly on the map than anyone else in recent history.

Never mind Benny Hill - what about a statue of Craig David!