Doherty replaced by fan at Babyshambles gig

Pete Doherty was replaced by a fan after he failed to turn up for a Babyshambles gig last night.

The group were the surprise headliners at the NME Awards Launch Party, but Doherty missed the performance due to illness.

Band members Drew McConnell and Adam Ficek took to the stage without their singer and told the audience: "Alright, my name is Drew and this is Adam, this is quite embarrassing really but it's been a hell of a day. Adam and I are here, but the other two boys [Doherty and guitarist Mik Whitnall] in the band aren't.

"It's a pain in the arse really."

The duo played the track 'I Wish', before allowing a fan called Jamie Dell step up from the audience and perform vocal duties.

Dell helped sing 'Carry On Up The Morning', prompting McConnell to comment: "I thought that was f**king beautiful man, he's doing better than I am for f*** sake!"

McConnell and Ficek were joined later on by The Paddingtons frontman Josh Hubbard on versions of The Clash's 'Janie Jones' and The Vaselines' 'Mollys Lips'.