Unrivalled local contacts ensured The Argus in Brighton got the inside track on the scoop every paper in Britain wanted.

As news of the trial separation of Zoe Ball and husband Norman Cook, who live in the city, broke late on Friday, reporters from the national press camped outside the Concorde II nightclub on Brighton seafront where Norman – aka Fatboy Slim – was hosting his regular Big Beat Boutique.

Inside was Aaron St Clair, a photographer for The Argus, whose pictures of The DJ’s beach concert last year were used in artwork for the chart-topping CD and DVD releases.

And when Norman needed to escape the paparrazi, Aaron smuggled him outside and gave him a lift home in his car.

The pair then sat together chatting for almost an hour in the early hours of Saturday morning as Fatboy poured out his heart about his marriage troubles.

After no more than a couple of hours sleep, Aaron went to the office where staff were already working on the weekend football special for that afternoon’s early kick off match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Portsmouth.

They moved the sports news further back and put together a front page splash and two-page spread inside featuring Aaron’s exclusive interview and pictures, which were later picked up by all the nationals.

Editor Simon Bradshaw said: “It was a great scoop by Aaron but came as no surprise to me. After all, a couple of years ago, he was singled out by Daniel O’Donnell at one of his concerts in Brighton.

“It seems that the stars love him almost as much as we do. He’s a terrific talent.”

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