Ozzy wins damages over Brits tabloid slur

Ozzy Osbourne has been awarded "substantial" damages from the Daily Star after the tabloid dubbed him a "freak show", reports Reuters.

The paper ran a story under the headline "Ozzy's Freak Show" following his hosting of this year's Brit Awards ceremony with his family.

The story claimed that Osbourne twice fell over before the show went live and had to be driven around backstage on an electric buggy.

Osbourne's solicitor John Kelly said: "The publication of false allegations that the claimant was in such a poor state of health that he was incapable of hosting an awards ceremony... are extremely serious."

Kate Wilson, lawyer for the Daily Star, told London's High Court that the newspaper had apologised for the distress caused by the article.

The damages will be donated to the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Programme, run by the Black Sabbath singer's wife.