David is the Deputy Dogg ; P Diddy Turns to Becks When His Friend Snoop is Barred From Britain (Mayb

Mar 27, 06:31 PM

Current Headlines: By ROBERT MENDICK; RASHID RAZAQ

DENIED the chance to perform with Snoop Dogg - the Home Office refused the rapper permission to enter the UK - P Diddy did what any pop star stuck in London on his own would do. He turned to David Beckham for company.

Diddy was due to appear with Dogg at a concert at Wembley Arena tonight but it has been cancelled after the Home Office decided he could not be allowed in following a brawl at Heathrow last year.

So finding himself kicking his heels in London, Diddy - real name Sean Combs - enjoyed an evening out with the former England football captain and his wife Victoria instead. The trio were photographed at Automat, the American brasserie in Mayfair.

Dogg may have been absent, but it is clear Beckham, 31, made the effort to stand in as a suitable deputy.

While Dogg wears a sort of net to keep his hair in place, Beckham wore an Arran knit beanie.

And while Mr Dogg's favoured expression is "fo' shizzle, ma nizzle" - best not to ask what it means - Beckham's catchphrase "Ere, pass the bleedin' ball, Jose" would doubtless have kept Diddy amused for hours.

More than 65,000 fans had purchased tickets to see Dogg and Diddy performing together for the first time in Britain during a five- night tour. Negotiations continued until the last minute but the Home Office refused to rescind a lifetime travel ban against Dogg - real name Calvin Broadaus - following a fight involving him and his entourage at Heathrow last April in which several police officers were injured.

A spokesman for tour promoter Outside said: "P Diddy and Snoop were devastated.They really did not want to let fans down this way."

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