Singer Paloma Faith revealed she was arrested for fly-posting twice in Hackney during her Brit Awards acceptance speech.
The Picking Up the Pieces singer, 33, who attended the now defunct Islington Green School, spoke last night of how she was apprehended by police as a fledgeling artist for plastering publicity flyers across the neighbouring borough.
After collecting her pink gong for Best British Solo Female from producer Mark Ronson, she told the crowd at the O2 Arena in Greenwich: “I used to fly-poster my posters in Hackney for my gigs and I’ve been arrested twice for doing that. Now I see that my posters are all over Greenwich Tube station legally and that’s an amazing feeling.”
During a tearful speech, the former magician’s assistant, who grew up in Stoke Newington, also said: “Wow. I’m so moved. It has been a long time coming. It has taken me 14 years to stand up here and accept this award and it means so much to me. I’m sorry that I’m going to talk a little bit, but other people have been doing short speeches and I think it’s people who have won lots of awards and don’t like to gob off as much as me.
“Thanks to my fans – they are the most incredible fans, they’re so lovely and so wonderful and meet me with such kindness.
“Flaws are what make people human and I don’t claim to be perfect. I make so many mistakes and I’m a bumbling wreck but I’m just so grateful and I might never be up here again, which is why I want to dedicate this to all the underdogs and grafters that work hard.”
Islington Green School in Prebend Street was closed in 2008 and replaced by City of London Academy, Islington – around the time Tony and Cherie Blair decided it wasn’t good enough for their son Euan.
The singer has previously told the Gazette that her time there helped to make her the artist she is. She said: “I had a really amazing experience. People were always criticising it but the teachers were just so brilliant. It was really creative, with really great art, music and dance departments. I really enjoyed it.”
She went on to do her A-Levels at City and Islington College, in Holloway, and in 2009 released her debut album, Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful, which reached number nine in the UK charts.
Her third and latest record, A Perfect Contradiction – including top 10 singles Can’t Rely on You and Only Love Can Hurt Like This – peaked at number 6 in the charts.
This year’s Brit Awards ceremony will also be remembered for Madonna falling backwards off the stage in her first performance at the show in 20 years. The legendary singer appeared to fumble with her red cloaked costume before she was dragged backwards down three steps on to the floor.
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