Pete Doherty has revealed that he was pleased that his 2008 spell in prison meant the cancellation of a gig at the Royal Albert Hall.

The Babyshambles man was jailed last April for drug use and failing to turn up to probation hearings on time, and he admits that as he was being sentenced in at West London Magistrates Court, he could only think about the solo show that had to be scrapped.

He said: "I was thinking, 'Thank God, I don't have to do that.'"

The show was later rescheduled and Doherty admits when he came to play the concert he had no idea what he'd been worrying about.

He explained: I had it in my head that I was going to be playing to stately families in boxes, staring at me down opera glasses, saying, 'Oh dear, what is that young man blabbering about?'

"(But) there was a bloody stage invasion. I had to disguise myself in a fireman's hat, or else I was going to get squished."

(by Daniel Melia)