Blunt plays for the troops

James Blunt was no doubt feeling a wave of familiarity as he played to members of the British Armed Forces in Kosovo last night.

Before his career as a singer, which has seen him win awards for hit songs such as You're Beautiful, Blunt graduated from the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and served time as an officer for the Life Guards in Kosovo.

No Bravery, one of the tracks on his debut album Back to Bedlam, is inspired by his experiences there.

Speaking to the Sun about his time in the Balkans, Blunt said: "It was high-pressure stuff. I was there during the bombing.

"But I met some extraordinary people. It was quite an experience."

He played in front of hundreds of troops last night and was supported by Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins for the gig.

But although Blunt seems to be able to make time for concerts supporting issues close to his heart, he came under fire at the weekend for failing to back a party organised by his girlfriend, the model Petra Nemcova.

A friend told the Sunday Mirror: "Petra has been really upset because James told her that he would definitely be there. But then he changed his mind and told her he had an important recording to do in Ibiza."