Heavy metal star Ozzy Osbourne was forced to cancel the Irish leg of his Ozzfest tour on Sunday after being taken ill the previous night at the UK gig.

The former Black Sabbath frontman was treated by a doctor after being blasted by freezing winds on stage at Donington Park, Leicestershire, on Saturday.

The cancellation came on the same night that a reality TV show about the rocker and his family, The Osbournes, made its UK debut after becoming a hit in the United States.

The music channel had one of its largest audiences ever with about 500,000 people tuning in - more than any other cable or digital channel in its timeslot.

He'll be fine, he just needs a few days to recover

Ozzy spokeswoman

A spokeswoman for Osbourne said the star could not perform at Dublin's Punchestown Racecourse because of the very strong freezing winds the night before.

"The wind was actually rushing towards the stage," she told BBC News Online.

"He was totally exposed and singing for over an hour and a half, so you are going to get effects if you do that sort of thing," she said.

The Osbournes: "Innovative, ballsy and compelling television"

Other bands who played included Tool, System of a Down, Slayer, Therapy? and Lostprophets.

Osbourne's spokeswoman said the singer should be fit to play the next show, in Poland on Wednesday, 29 May.

"He'll be fine, he just needs a few days to recover," she said.

Ozzfest is Osbourne's annual five-month tour around Europe and the US, during which he headlines the show supported by a host of other heavy rock bands.

Last year, he postponed a tour after performing for a week unaware that he had a broken leg.

Dysfunctional

Osbourne has found a new cult status after The Osbournes became a surprise hit.

It follows Ozzy - who has described himself as dysfunctional - plus his wife and rebellious teenage children as they endeavour to go about their daily lives.

US President George W Bush is a fan, and Osbourne has been invited to perform at Buckingham Palace for the Queen's Golden Jubilee concert on Monday, 3 June.

Only awards shows have ever attracted more viewers in the history of MTV UK and Ireland.

"The Osbournes is innovative, ballsy and compelling television," according to Michiel Bakker, managing director MTV Networks UK.

Osbourne was previously best-known for biting the head off a live bat on stage and urinating on the Alamo, in the US.