The first food I remember is Farley's Rusks with warm milk on cold mornings. I still love rusks. That's why my sister has kids – so I can go round and nick theirs.
At boarding school we were rationed to three boiled sweets on Wednesday, three on Saturday, and a chocolate bar on Sunday. So anything extra represented freedom, especially crisps. I'd smuggle in mine inside a hollowed-out dictionary.
I have a lolly stick phobia. I can't even hold one – I have to wrap a napkin around. It's making me go funny now, just thinking about the texture if you bite one. Horrendous.
When I was 19 I waitered at an organic restaurant in Exeter, and one night four deaf gay guys came in and I spoke very slowly and precisely, so they could read my lips. They became more lewd as they got more drunk and finally said, "We want to take you home with us." I thought, "You pervs, no way" and mouthed "Fuck off". But they gave me a tip.
You learn everything you need in life as a waiter – delegation, communication, selling, handling difficult people, pushing premium products, humility, charm, and getting others to fancy you.
The most disappointing food experience I've ever had was when the bus driver stopped for lunch during a horrendous, standing-room-only, 12-hour bus ride to Mombasa and I was told a cafe served fish and chips. But it was raw potatoes with a charred fish head on top.
Recently I meditated and fasted for five days in Ibiza, living on just vegetable water. Although I probably lost too much weight, I coped very easily. But when I got home I had a coffee and a piece of chocolate cake and went completely nuts.
We had a family party in 2002 to celebrate my parents' wedding anniversary, my sister's birthday, and me winning Pop Idol. There were 120 people on three trestle tables eating bangers and mash and at the end we had a massive food fight with ice cream and jelly. Delightful.
I saw a psychiatrist who told me about how food could help my depression, then at a lodge in Mozambique I discovered the power of blueberries, blackberries, pomegranate seeds, avocado, veggies and fish oils. Wanting to take care of yourself is the key.
I've started thinking I'd really like to go on a beginner's cookery course for a week, to learn the basics of pastries, pies, breads and sauces. It's time for it – I've moved home, I've got a big kitchen and I'm ready. I want to take Dad on it with me – I'm not sure he's very keen, but it'd be a good thing for us to do together as men.
The album Echoes is out now on RCA
