No.1 for Interviews - Peter Andre
Peter Andre

From ‘abs-tastic’ singer to doting husband and father, Pete fills Emma Hayley Dixon in on his next big career move and why kids make, rather than break, a marriage.

As half of one of Britain’s most famous couples, Peter Andre has gotten used to cameras following his every move. The public interest in him, his wife and family, has propelled them all into a different celebrity sphere. With their addictive TV show, we get an intriguing insight into their lives and see that there’s much more to them than just a popstar who married a model. Now, Peter is determined that 2008 is the year he’ll get back to his music. And he’s planning to kick off with a bang at one of Scotland’s biggest festivals – Retrofest. When we catch up with the 35-year-old Australian we notice immediately how infectious his excitement is – he truly can’t wait to get back up on that stage! What becomes more apparent, the more you talk to him, is that he has the same level of enthusiasm about every aspect of his life – but touchingly, none more so than his wife and kids, fitting seen as he has just been voted Daddy of the Year!

You’re playing at Retrofest this year, what can we expect – any new songs?
Depending on how many songs they want, I might do a few of my favourite 80s tracks, as well as some new tracks. At the end of the day, even though Mysterious Girl wasn’t in the 80s, it’s 13 years old now so I’ll probably do that even though it’s not completely retro. I want to do something great! I’m really excited about it – I’m getting so into putting an album together now and back into the music. It’ll be great to be up there with some of the artists I grew up listening to.

What direction are your new songs moving in?
Adult contemporary. I’m honoured to be at Retrofest because we all have to pay tribute to these greats as they have paved the way for us.

At the gigs you used to play there were hundreds of female fans screaming your name, does that still happen now?
I have no idea! I got married and even though our TV show is, thankfully, a huge success. I don’t think ‘Oh yeah it’s going be great everyone loves me’ or anything like that. You’ve got Kajagoogoo with Limahl and these are good looking fellas, as well as Boy George and Paul Young – I’m going to have some stiff competition there.

You’ll have to make sure you put on quite a show!
I will don’t you worry. I love performing, and everyone is going to hear me with a live band, which is where I’m really at home. I think it’ll be great!

How do you cope with the female attention?
I’m getting old now, it’s not like it used to be! I said to Kate, “What is it with me, girls don’t come up to me anymore. Is it because I’m with you? Or is it just that I’m getting old?” In other words I don’t even notice those kinds of things anymore. I know that sounds bizarre because when you hear someone say that you’re thinking, ‘Yeah right!’

Guys come up to me and are like, “You remind me of me, my missus treats me like that too.” And it’s really bizarre to have that connection with people.

Do you think you just seem more approachable now?
Yeah I think that’s what it is and I’m happy about that because it’s not based on abs and trying to have the right image for the right song. It’s more about being a real person and people relating to you. But I do love music first though. I’ve said this year I’m getting right back into it now!

You came back into the spotlight through I’m A Celebrity, how does it feel this time around?
It’s so different this time because I’m not taking anything for granted. I’m humbled – I was a bit self-obsessed the first time, but it is true that I had eleven top ten hits in the UK, eight of them were top ten. So I had my fair share of that kind of life and it was great but I was self-obsessed and I did take it all a bit seriously. This time the fame has come round again but in a whole different way – I enjoy it as a family man now, I don’t enjoy it as ‘a trying to get a number one in the charts’ kind of guy. I can actually do this Retrofest and just enjoy it rather than having to worry about being the best.

So you don’t feel like image is as important to you now?
It’s still important because I’ve got a stunning wife standing next to me, not because I’m vain or anything.

What were your reasons for doing a reality show with Katie and the kids?
It was weird because when we did the jungle our management said to us, “We’re gong to film you every day, just in case anyone is interested in doing a reality show.” But those kind of shows weren’t as big then, The Osbournes were out at the time but that was it really. So basically we were filmed live in the jungle where we met and it’s carried on ever since.

Has it become the norm now for you to have a camera crew around you at all times?
Totally! And it’s a lot easier job than having to put a record together, I’ll tell you that much – because they just film you being you. You don’t feel conscious of the cameras whilst they’re filming but when you watch it back you think ‘Oh my God why the hell did I wear that?’ But that’s what makes it real.

You’re working all the time for the show and are busy this year with music – do you feel that it puts a strain on your relationship and family life?
Not at all, the great thing is the fact that it’s the whole family that’s involved, it means we get to spend more time with the kids. So if anything it brings us all closer together. I’m not going to say, “I’m a great dad”, but I feel proud to be a good dad.

What would you say is the secret to a successful relationship?
Personally, apart from trust, I think kids! Some people find it breaks their relationship but to me it makes it so much stronger because you do everything for those kids. They become your priority in life and all of a sudden you’re not so obsessed with you, you have to devote that obsession to them. I think kids and loyalty to each other – but kids keep you busy all the time anyway, you won’t have time to think about not succeeding in marriage.

You two travel a lot together for work – is Katie going to come up to Scotland with you for Retrofest?
I’m going to tell her to get her arse up there! She’s a massive fan of the 80s like me. But I’m just making sure I get time to rehearse with the band and get it just right. I don’t dance around as much as I used to anymore – not through laziness just because I’m 35 now not 17, but then again I’ll see what the crowd are doing and join in – you’ve got to do a few moves!

With so much of your life dominated by work and the cameras – how do you enjoy your time off?
Cooking and watching DVDs or forensic detective shows – that’s it for me. I’m obsessed with cooking and making a meal that’s going to knock me out so then I can just sit on the couch and relax. Katie loves my cooking – either that or she can’t be arsed doing it herself so she’s just saying that. But once the kids are in bed and I’ve cooked, then we’re just sitting watching TV – that’s the ultimate moment for me. I love that kind of life. People say “Let’s meet up, we have to go out” and I’m just like, “Yeah, yeah we’ll do it next week” and I always put it off because I don’t want to go anywhere.

Where do you see yourself in ten years time?
I hope to see myself with more kids – a big, big family! And, if they have another Retrofest in ten years time then I hope I’m a genuine retro artist! So... loads of kids – but I’m going to try not to be a size 48 waist, I’m going to try and stay slim!

How many kids are you going to go for?
About six or seven! And I mean it too, I love it! I don’t want to stop – I don’t mean that in a rude way I just want to have them now! I don’t want to be in my 50s and my kids are babies I want to be enjoying them!

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