Superstar DJ Norman Cook was back where he feels most at home last night - spinning records and making people happy.

In a trademark crazy shirt Norman, better known as Fatboy Slim, put aside his marital difficulties to play a set at the Escape Club in Brighton.

He and his wife, presenter Zoe Ball, have announced a trial separation The Hove DJ brought the house down for the venue's 19th birthday.

Zoe had planned to mix some tunes of her own upstairs in the club's Stick It On night.

However, she was staying at the couple's home in Crouch End, north London, after her show on the London independent radio station Xfm.

Zoe, 32, put on a brave face as she returned to the airwaves for the first time yesterday since the marriage problems emerged, and admitted: "You've got to laugh or you'll cry."

She tried to make light of their trial separation by asking listeners to suggest the most inappropriate tracks for her predicament.

Suggestions included Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now by The Smiths and Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division.

Asked how her weekend had been, Zoe said: "Oh a bit quiet, not much going on really."

She acknowledged the increased interest in her afternoon programme by saying: "Welcome all new listeners to the show today - and members of the Press."

Zoe rounded off her show with a version of the theme from TV show and film M*A*S*H, Suicide Is Painless.

Meanwhile, Norman, 39, was gearing up for his slot at the Escape.

With an audience jam-packed with friends and fans, he played a two-hour set and interacted with the crowd.

Security was extremely tight at the venue, with paparazzi photographers camped outside.

Aaron St Clair, of The Argus, was the only photographer allowed in, at the special request of Norman.

The DJ joked with Aaron by holding up a no photos sign and pulling a silly face at the camera.

Celebrities at the event included Albion hotshot Bobby Zamora, who played some songs of his own on the wheels of steel.

Zoe and Norman admitted at the weekend that they were having marriage difficulties.

Zoe has been living at their north London home for several days a week after taking on the Xfm show, while her 39-year-old husband continues to live at their beachfront home in Hove.

The pair have blamed hectic workloads for their difficulties.