It's quite simple: I managed it by doing away with Wham!'s duo image. Obviously, the way I looked changed and that helped a little, but I still have a very pop image. It's a very video-friendly image. I find it a lot more real. It's a lot closer to who I am than the whole Wham! thing.

We always talked [with Andrew Ridgeley] about when it would happen - we always knew that I would go on to have a solo career.

50 percent of the people I perform for have come to scream at me and the other 50 percent have come to listen to the music.

I have definitely reached the same level as Madonna in terms of sales. I'm really pleased about that.

Still, the music was always there, and the lyrical capability was always threatening to show its head.

I thought [first girlfriend] was trying to make a fool out of me. Then I found out that she wasn't, and we went out. That's a very good example of how little confidence I had.

I have two sisters. My father is Greek and comes from a family of seven. My mother is English and comes from a family of five.