Rapping Robbie back with chance of Novello

But there is a silver lining to the singer's cloud with his nomination today for one of British songwriting's most prestigious prizes.

His flop single Rudebox is a surprise contender for international hit of the year at the Ivor Novello Awards.

The track featuring Williams rapping was trashed by critics and topped the chart only in Germany and Switzerland. But judges at the Novellos have deemed it successful enough to make the shortlist alongside Scissor Sisters' disco smash hit I Don't Feel Like Dancin', co-written by Sir Elton John, and

Madonna's worldwide number one Sorry, by Briton Stuart Price.

An awards spokesman said: "The nominations are based on statistical data and the award is for the song by a British writer that has sold the most around the world."

Williams has won four Novellos during his career, including songwriter of the year in 1999, with collaborator Guy Chambers, for Angels.

The past year has been one of his least successful to date. The latest British Rich List revealed he earned £5 million last year, leaving him trailing in 755th place. He entered rehab on his

33rd birthday in February, with a prescription pill addiction and reportedly suffering from depression after seeing his solo career slump against the resurgence of his former bandmates Take That.

Other nominees include Alex Turner

of the Arctic Monkeys who is nominated for best song with When the Sun Goes Down. Londoner Nerina Pallot is also shortlisted for her single Sophia, which only made number 32 in Britain last year.

Amy Winehouse is shortlisted for best contemporary song, for Rehab, alongside Hot Chip's Over and Over and Bodyrox hit Yeah Yeah. The gong for most performed work will be a straight fight between I Don't Feel Like Dancin', Madonna's Sorry and Corinne Bailey Rae's Put Your Records On.

Casino Royale, Ice Age: The Meltdown and Severance are shortlisted for best film score.

The ceremony for the 52nd Ivor Novello Awardstakes place at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, on 24 May.

The nominations

Best song musically and lyrically Elusive (Scott Matthews); Sophia (Nerina Pallot); When The Sun Goes Down (Alex Turner)

Best contemporary song Over and Over (Hot Chip); Rehab (Amy Winehouse); Yeah Yeah (Bodyrox ft Luciana)

Best original film score Casino Royale (David Arnold); Ice Age, The Meltdown (John Powell); Severance (Christian Henson)

Best TV soundtrack Hotel Babylon (John Lunn/Jim Williams); Shiny Shiny Bright New Hole In My Heart (Alex Heffes); The Virgin Queen (Martin Phipps)

PRS most performed work I Don't Feel Like Dancin' (Scissor Sisters); Put Your Records On (Corinne Bailey Rae); Sorry (Madonna)

International hit of the year I Don't Feel Like Dancin' (Scissor Sisters); Rudebox (Robbie Williams;) Sorry (Madonna)