FATBOY Slim has surprised his fans by trading his DJ decks for an apron during the pandemic.

He is used to entertaining crowds of thousands but he swapped his jet-set lifestyle for shifts waiting tables.

The DJ, who lives in Hove, has owned the Big Beach Café at Hove Lagoon for seven years – and coronavirus has provided him with the opportunity to become more hands on.

The Argus: Fatboy Slim has been working in his Hove cafe after Covid-19 restricted limited live music. Fatboy Slim has been working in his Hove cafe after Covid-19 restricted limited live music.

Fatboy, whose real name is Norman Cook, told Phil Reynolds, host of the Celebs And The Average Joe Podcast, that he was surprised by his skills.

He said: “It turns out I make a pretty good waiter – I’m there 11 to three most weekdays.

“That’s how latterly I’ve been getting through lockdown. I was losing my will to live just sitting at home every day. And everything we tried to do just seemed to fall apart.”

The Praise You DJ said that working in the café had provided him with an outlet during a period in which live events were cancelled.

The Argus: Fatboy Slim, who lives in Hove, said working in the cafe had provided him with an outlet.Fatboy Slim, who lives in Hove, said working in the cafe had provided him with an outlet.

He said: “I think it was really beginning to affect my mental health and I was thinking, ‘you’ve got to do something’.

“So I just started working in the cafe, and it’s great because it’s a bit like the Queen Vic – it’s like one ongoing soap opera. I’m a pretty good waiter.

“I’m not trained on the coffee machine – I leave the baristas to that. But I’m a good front-of-house.”

Despite selling millions of records worldwide, Norman said many customers fail to recognise him.

He said: “That’s half the gag.

“Because half the regulars either don’t look at me because I’ve got a mask on, they don’t look or care.

“The other half kind of smile knowingly.”

The star went on to discuss his personal fears about how long the coronavirus pandemic will continue to affect gigs and the live music industry.

He said: “The idea of how long it is going to go on gets really scary.

“Especially for people in our end of the entertainment business, it’s really scary because we’re under no illusions that will be the

last thing to be put back in place.”

The Big Beach Café has now closed in line with Tier 4 restrictions, however it is still open for takeaway.