After spending nearly 40 years addicted to drugs and alcohol, Ozzy Osbourne has revealed that sobriety has brought with it a new drug of choice: caffeine.

Osbourne, whose previous rock and roll antics include biting the head off a bat, pissing on the Alamo and lest we forget sniffing a line of ants, has revealed that he cannot go on stage without drinking a cup of tea.

Explaining to reporters the reason behind his choice of pre-gig beverage, he said: "Chocolate thickens the saliva, which isn't good news if you've gotta recite Shakespeare or sing 'Iron Man".

"Having said that, you're not supposed to drink tea either but I still do before gigs. It's not very rock and roll, but it's like a magic potion to me."

In further Ozzy news, the singer is set to lend his voice to the latest Disney animation, Gnomeo and Juliet, playing the part of a fawn.