JUSTIN HAWKINS - JUSTIN DARKNESS DELIVERS MTV CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

Frontman JUSTIN HAWKINS of supergroup THE DARKNESS is to deliver an alternative Christmas message to Britain on music channel MTV.

The rocker will be pitted against British royal QUEEN ELIZABETH II, making her annual speech on BBC1, and pop singer VICTORIA BECKHAM, who is CHANNEL 4's alternative offering for the 3pm Christmas Day (25DEC03) slot in Britain.

Justin's address includes the words, "This time last year I was a music nobody. Today I sit at the top of the music tree, feeling pretty good.

"Another major highlight of 2003 was when we headlined KNEBWORTH with Mr ROBBIE WILLIAMS as our warm-down act.

"Despite the fact that we upstaged him in a pretty dramatic way, Robbie was extremely gracious in accepting a lesson in rock, administered by The Darkness - until the point that his cool friends like MAX BEESLEY turned up, that is, and he dropped us like a hot potato."

He adds, "I've learnt that if you're stout of heart, solid of mind and you stand tall and cheer up everything works out for the best."