British musician Sam Fender has said he used the nationwide lockdown to come to terms with fame.

Fender has become a household name after winning the Rising Star award at the 2019 Brits.

He said: “I found being back here [in North Shields] quite unnerving. I was coming to terms with all the stuff, all the fame I had found. I went inwards, very much so.

"It wasn’t the best of times, but I am coming out the other end of that. And there has been a lot of self-exploration and trying to sort myself out.”

Fender, 26, also spoke about the impact fame has had on his mental health.

He added: "You would be mental if you didn’t feel mental [dealing with fame]. On the flip side, I get to do my hobby as my job. I am very lucky. I just have to get my head screwed on and do my sh**.”