The biggest shock when I lost it all was the realization that so much of my life had been out of my control. When I started to make the money back, I vowed that it would never happen again. I bought things only when I could afford them. There was no big mortgage, no cars on hire purchase. I remember buying a TR6 sports car for £6,000, and funnily enough it gave me more pleasure than the Porsche ever had.

You are a saucy little thing aren't you?

I don't mind competition at all. I mean, the record business is the most competitive business in the world, probably. So I'm used to that. In a weird way, it kind of makes you work harder.

I've learned to deal with stress much better now, things don't bother me in the way that they once used to.

Harshness to me is giving somebody false hopes and not following through. That's harsh. Telling some guy or some girl who've got zero talent that they have zero talent actually is a kindness.

Beyonce is good-looking. Jennifer Lopez is good-looking. Madonna used to be good-looking.

It simply works. You do it twice a year. Who cares? And it balances my smoking and drinking.