He is a youth icon, revered by dance music fans the world over.

But there wasn't much youthful-looking about Fatboy Slim, who hit 45 last month, as he came back from his latest DJing jaunt at the weekend.

The disc jockey, whose real name is Norman Cook, grimaced in pain as he pushed a heavy trolley laden with bags from a flight from Sardinia at Gatwick Airport on Saturday.

He had been doing a gig at an exclusive party on the Italian island where he also owns a yacht with his wife Zoe Ball.

Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, struggles with his bags and a cigarette, leaving wife Zoe to load the luggage into the car

But it was left to Zoe to carry the heaviest bags to their waiting limousine.

Mail Online has learned that Cook, who lives with his wife and son Woody on the coast in Brighton, is suffering from debilitating back pain after years of lugging heavy records round the world in a bag slung over his shoulder.

He told a passenger on the flight from Olbia to Gatwick: 'All the long flights and all the gigging have taken their toll.

'I had almost forgotten the back problem, but it's been worse than ever in recent weeks. It's getting worst and worse and I can hardly bend down.'

The DJ looked exhausted coming off the flight, and also showed his hair has turned almost completely grey.

But that is just perhaps that is just what a life of hard-partying does to you.

The popular DJ winces in pain as he leaves Gatwick Airport

At least Cook does not have to worry where the pennies are coming in from.

Cook is one of the most prolific club DJs and dance music producers of all time.

In 1985, he found fame in the Housemartins, then went on to form Beats International, then Freakpower, then he became Pizzaman.

But it is as Fatboy Slim, that he has enjoyed the most success.

His remix of Brimful of Asha for Cornershop went to No1. Praise You from his album You've Come A Long Way Baby became his first solo No1.

In July 2002 he performed the second of his free, open air concerts on Brighton beach.

Despite expecting a crowd of around 60,000 people the event attracted an estimated 250,000 who crammed the promenade and beach between Brighton's piers.

Local police forced the event to end early amid safety concerns, overcrowding, and one death.

More recently he has headlined the dance tents at Glastonbury for the past two years.

Cook, pictured with wife Zoe Ball, turns 45 this month and has admitted lifting his records has affected his back