You have to apply yourself because you'll never get a better opportunity than the one you have right now. Having said that, people know by now if they like me or not. I don't need to prove anything.

But I don't like working on lyrics publicly in the studio - I prefer to take them away and work on them in my bedroom.

In terms of influence, my style icons have been a mixture of Julie Andrews and Olivia Newton-John. When I was little I used to watch 'Grease,' 'Mary Poppins' and 'The Sound of Music' a lot. If you put all those things together you do kind of get my outfits. A slightly tarty nanny in a second-hand outfit. That is pretty much what I wear.

The fact that my mother was on television every week while I was young was occasionally awkward, and often frustrating.

I really love being in London at weekends - there's always so much to do.

Dance music is great, but it's not a time to be reflective or particularly wistful.

Yes, being educated is definitely an advantage. But having said that, I've met so many people in life who haven't done very well at school but who are still really bright.