Coldplay rooting for Elbow

CHRIS MARTIN has admitted that he would be "thrilled" if Elbow beat them at the Brit Awards.

Coldplay and the Mercury Music Prize winners are set to go head-to-head at the awards this month with both being nominated for the MasterCard British Album, British Group and British Live Act.

But Martin, 31, said he would like to see Elbow walk away with the accolades.

Speaking to Birmingham-based station Kerrang! Radio he said: "The truth of it is that if they won some Brit Awards we would be thrilled.

"Elbow and us go back a long time and we love Elbow and it's amazing that people are discovering them in such large numbers.

"Although of course we'll have to be competitive on the evening, secretly we will be kind of rooting for them.

"Do you think its too late for us to go up for Best British Female?"

Martin, who is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow, admitted he was delighted to receive the nominations.

He said: "It means the world because it would be terrible if you weren't nominated.

"As much as we like to pretend that we don't care about that kind of stuff, it's so nice to get any sort of acknowledgement."

The BRIT Awards 2009 ceremony will take place at Earls Court on February 18 and will be presented by Kylie Minogue.