My best moment was when my little brother was born, when i was just turning 16. I'll never forget the feeling of holding him for the first time. When he fell asleep on my arms it was just an incredibly magical moment - definetly the best moment of my life.
Well, I was bullied at school so i'm kinda used to it!
To be honest, it was so long ago that i dont remember. But i realised it was something i was always going to have to deal with. As an artist you have to face your critics everyday. Sometimes they love you other days they hate you. The British tabloids often build people up to knock them down - but in my case they cut my legs off before i could stand. I've decided to see it as a blessing in disguise, because it meant i had to try so much harder, and it focused my passion into music.
I try to let it slide of me like water of a duck's back, but it's really frustrating. I guess there's always people who dont like what you do, so i just keep believing in myself. It's an uphill struggle, though. The music business is so fierce and cutthroat, I just try to see it all as character-building. Well, that's what my mum and dad tell me to do anyway! My family have been really brillant and supportive.
I don't believe either of those things - the first is cynical, the second is implausible.
Oh, aye! I've grown up such alot in the past two years, so i don't look back at my overenthusiasm and my blind naivety. And learning the hard way is bad enough, but when you do it infornt of 12 million people on national television, it's just taking it to another level! You learn fast!
No regrets! It was worth it because Britney send me a lovely message just to say and that she thought i did great. That's worth all the pissing-taking in the world. My mates still rip me to shreds about it, though!
I actually saw it as a blessing in disguise at the time - it made me realise that i needed to concentrate really hard on being a solo performer.
I don't know. A good song appeals to everyone, so if they have the right material then there's no reason why they shouldn't be sucessful, because they are very talented. I wish them all the best.
They're absolutely fantastic - I've got so muich respect for them. They totally deserved there NO1. I much prefer :Liberty X to listen to. It's closer to the stuff i would actually buy than Hear'Say.
No. I just wanted to get to the final 10, so i exceeded my own expectations.
I wasn't what Simon Cowell was looking for - that was embodied in Gareth Gates. I also wasn't sure the public would give me another chance. But i was so excited about the other stuff i was doing - the songs i was writing - that i realised my future lay elsewhere.
He's a very intelligent, witty businessman. I've got alot of respect for what he does, and he's much nicer behind the scenes than he is on camera.
Madonna. She's an inspiration in every way. She's a strong woman with a tough skin, a keen sense of direction, focus and energy. She's constantly changing and trendsetting, staying one step ahead of the pack.
Yes - and i apologised to her afterwards!
I'll always be involved in music, whether or not i'm in the public eye. If i'm not up on stage, I'll be writing songs by myself in my bedroom.