Now when I say Sophie Ellis-Bextor I feel that's not really me because that's become this entity from doing the gigs and the shows and the make-up contracts and whatever else.

I've got a thing for footwear; I have about 200 pairs of shoes from all over the world.

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.

I like the influence of the macabre, but I don't believe in ghosts.

I never manage to get to bed early on Sunday night but this doesn't matter, as I don't know one level of exhaustion from another.

It's funny how intimate it feels to get a text.

Trust your instincts: they tend to see you right. By listening to them, at least you can sleep at night.