Estelle Defends Dizzie!!

In an interview with The New Statesman, Estelle has criticised Newsnight presenter Jeremy Paxman for his treatment of Dizzee Rascal during a recent interview .

"I don't ever want to diss another artist that I know is in the same struggle and grind as me, but it was the look on Jeremy Paxman's face. I was like, 'He [Paxman] is taking you for an idiot right now! Did no one brief you?'" says Estelle of the November interview based around Barack Obama becoming president. "I felt so disappointed because Dizzee has come so far as an artist and a businessman that to go on there and represent us, represent all the musicians in the UK, it was like Oh. My. Gaawd."

One question Estelle was particularly opposed to was the "Mr Rascal, do you feel yourself to be British?"

"That was out of line," said Estelle. "Paxman's not going to get away with asking me do I think I'm British. That's disrespectful - you know, what do you think I am? I'd want to question him - and make him feel like an idiot."

Dizzee's camp has so far yet to make a comment on the Newsnight appearance, although Estelle isn't the only one to voice her disappointment in the interview. Since the show aired, there has been a lot of discussion over the interview, although the Beeb have defended the show: "The topics being discussed were race, nationality and identity, and this question was a natural part of that discussion."