I applied for three jobs in record companies and was offered all of them. I took the most glamorous-sounding job in the promotions department and it began my love affair with the music industry.

My parents explained: "You can either have a big Christmas and birthday present or we'll go abroad." We'd say: "Let's go abroad!" We had a lovely childhood.

I've always paid off my mortgage as much as I could.

People think I get this free wardrobe but, sadly, that's not the case. I sometimes sell my unwanted clothes and shoes at car-boots so I can buy more - that's my guilty secret.

If you get up every morning and smile, it's a good place to be.

I think Amy is a really difficult example. With any artist, none of us understands what it's like having the world's media scrutinising everything you do.

While waiting for my visa, I got a job in the music industry, which was so exciting, it changed my life and stopped me moving.

Thirty-nine was the best year of my life earnings-wise. I paid off my mortgage and felt a massive sense of achievement.

Prophecy is a possibility.

Amazing, really, to think of what a man could achieve with the simple ability to put pen to paper and spin a decent yarn.

I'm not afraid to make mistakes. I'm afraid of not learning from them.

Being anonymous on help, it's feel's awesome.

Every step in the progress of this study has tended to obliterate the technical barriers by which logicians have sought to separate the inquiries relating to the several parts of man's nature.

Humility is a very important trait in a critic.

It is incredible how far women have come and women in sports have come.

Everybody has a capacity for a happy life. All these talks about how difficult times we live in, that's just a clever way to justify fear and laziness.

Why is it such a big deal what I'm swimming?

One gem from that ocean is worth all the pebbles of earthly streams.