Lily Allen wins best song for The Fear at Q Awards

While there’s more of the same behaviour from Amy Winehouse at the magazine’s annual bash

LAST UPDATED 11:41 AM, OCTOBER 27, 2009

Singer Lily Allen won best song for The Fear at the Q Awards in central London yesterday, and provided one of the few moments of controversy at an otherwise distinctly un-rock 'n' roll awards bash.

Allen trooped up to accept her gong with a pint of lager in her hand, then marched back to her table where she promptly sparked up - an obvious no-no in these days of the smoking ban. No member of staff at the Grosvenor House Hotel felt bold enough to demand that she extinguish her gasper.

It's the second time in a month that Allen's association with the magazine has proved profitable - a Q front page featuring the singer in her stockings and holding the leashes of a pair of panthers won an industry award last week for best cover for the magazine.

Other big winners yesterday included Kasabian and Muse, who respectively picked up best album and best band in the world. Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan dedicated the award for West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, the band's third album, to his gran.

The magazine's achievement awards saw Edwyn Collins crowned legend of the year, Marianne Faithfull the icon and Cat Stevens classic songwriter, while Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant was recognised for his outstanding contribution to music. Two-Tone founders the Specials, who reformed this year to tour, took the inspiration gong.

The Coventry ska band was due to receive its award from film-maker Don Letts and Amy Winehouse, but the soul singer was in typically skittish mood. She arrived late on stage after Letts had already handed over the award, squawked "I know you’ve been to these awards a million times but give it up for The Specials" then was given a dressing-down by the veteran director.

Winehouse wasn't finished, though, and later heckled Plant while he was receiving his award to the embarrassment of the audience. At least the paparazzi were happy with the singer's barely-there cocktail dress, which struggled to contain her recently augmented - to the tune of £35,000, according to the Sun - breasts.