Sunderland legend's daughter is up for a Brit award

Gary Bennett’s daughter Janee wrote the Jess Glynne single Hold My Hand, which is up for Best British Single.

It will go head-to-head against Adele’s Hello and Ellie Goulding’s Love Me Like You Do when the prestigious awards ceremony takes place this week.

The singer/songwriter, who is known as Jin Jin, has worked alongside Little Mix, Tinie Tempah, David Guetta and Rihanna.

It will be the first time she has attended the event and admits she is finding the nomination “surreal” after admitting she has never been put forward for anything in her life.

She said: “It’s just amazing.

“I’ve done this for years and I’ve never really been nominated for anything before.

“It just feels so surreal, it was like ‘Oh my gosh’ that’s amazing. I’ve watched the Brit awards for years and it was an event I’ve always wanted to go to, but I never imagined I would be going as someone who has been nominated for an award.

“I can’t wait for the night, I’m still trying to decide what to wear. The whole thing is surreal, it just feels like it is happening to someone else.”

Jin Jin, who is from Manchester and now lives in London, has always had an interest in performing, however over the years she began to write songs.

Her new-found talent led her onto her a career path which now sees her writing with international stars.

As well as writing lyrics she also co-produces work.

“I go into the studio every day and work with different artists, it’s about finding out what they want to say, the sound they like and where they are coming from, interpreting all that and putting it into a song.”

Former Sunderland player Gary, who is now a radio pundit, said: “It’s a great privilege for her just to be nominated and this is her profession, it’s what she does.”