As the Mysterious Girl singer prepares to turn 50, he’s preparing a very special event in Sussex and practising his cut-glass English accent in case the 007 movie directors fancy casting him as the British spy
Peter Andre is a busy man. Fresh from playing Vince Fontaine/Teen Angel in Grease at London’s Dominion Theatre, and wrapping a film he is in the middle of recording a new album, and is creating a series of special events - ‘not concerts’ he insists - to celebrate 30 years in show business.
On top of that, the singer, who rocketed to the top of the UK pop charts in 1996 with Mysterious Girl with those abs, is 50 next month. (subs note: February.)
But Peter has no plans to slow down. ‘I can’t believe I’m hitting the big 5 – 0,’ he says, sounding genuinely surprised. ‘I feel so much younger.’
And while he’s running around after his four children – Junior, 17, and Princess, 15, with ex Katie Price, 44, who he famously fell in love with in the jungle during I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, and Amelia, eight, and Theo, six, with doctor wife Emily, 33, - he is also gearing up for some unique events across Britain. During these special experiences – he comes to Crawley on 24 March – Peter will meet fans, perform music, and reminisce about the past 30 years.
Here, in a quick-fire interview, Peter, who lived in Sussex for years before finally moving across the border to Surrey, reveals what he has in store for 2023...
Congratulations, Peter – you’re 50 this year and celebrating 30 years in showbusiness. It’s going to be quite a year! Which one are you most excited about?
Thank you – it has to be 30 years in showbiz. I’m so lucky I’m still here and still doing things that I love. I’m in denial about being 50!
What do you have planned to celebrate?
It’s really weird. Ages ago, when I thought about the big 5-0, I thought, right, I’ll go the US and ride on a Harley- Davidson with my mates along Route 66. But now I don’t even want a party. I want to go somewhere hot with my wife and kids. I gave myself an early present to go to see my mum and dad just before Christmas. They live on the Gold Coast in Australia.
Didn’t they just celebrate their 67th wedding anniversary?
Yes. I remember when Mum got a letter from the Queen congratulating her on her 60th wedding anniversary and she told me to call her and invite the Queen round for a cup of tea. I did meet Her Majesty three times but we weren’t on those terms!
Did you meet any other other royals?
Yes, I’ve met King Charles when he was Prince of Wales and William and Harry came to one of my concerts when they were young. I met Diana, too, who was as amazing and as beautiful as you would expect. She was very special.
So what are you doing to honour your 30 years in showbusiness? We hear you’re coming to Sussex, which you know very well.
I should hope so as I lived here for a long time [in the Withdean area in Brighton and Dormans Park, near East Grinstead among others]. I loved Dormans Park. There were cosy pubs and great restaurants and I loved my local Tesco. Now I live in Surrey I shop at Waitrose or Sainsbury, not because I’m posh, because I’m not, but they’re the nearest, but in Sussex I loved Tesco. I’d also go to the South Downs and to the coast – it's a fantastic place and I’m not very far away now in Surrey.
You bought Tom Cruise’s house in Dormans Park didn’t you?
I didn’t own it, I rented it for a year but I never met him. It was a special place though.
Did he leave any of his stuff there?
(laughs) No, there was nothing from Top Gun left lying around.
When will you be performing in Sussex?
I’m coming there in March [at The Hawth, Crawley on the 24th ). That will be one of my first five shows, which are very unique. They’re not concerts. It’s similar to when a comedian tours and goes to comedy clubs to test the shows, and then goes out into the stadiums and theatres. They're like that.
I’ve teamed up with [award-winning director-choreographer] Gary Lloyd, the man behind Thriller in the West End. It’s a cool concept and the audience in the first five shows will be part of the show. It’s something so different and once we’ve done these first shows, we will make it much bigger and it will be going for years.
This is just one of the things I wanted to launch, and then I need to finish the album I’m working on now.
Sounds like you’re very busy. When do you sleep?
(chortles) I love being busy.
What about seeing you on TV soon? We loved your reality TV shows. If you were asked back to do I’m a Celebrity... or Strictly Come Dancing which would you choose?
(instantly) I’m a Celeb because although Strictly is a great show it was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done in my life.
But you’re a good dancer!
Why, thank you. It’s just so intense and technical and every dance is different and you have to be good at them all. When I did the Charleston, I got three 10s and Len stood up and gave us a standing ovation, but for ballroom I was getting low marks.
You’re in great shape at the moment. How are those famous abs?
The body has been looking slick because I’ve been doing Grease and with that intensity it’s impossible to put on any weight. But sometimes the abs are hibernating – they decide to take a chill pill once in a while.
So, when you’re not on stage how do you keep in shape?
I don’t diet as that is all about restricting what you eat. Instead, I changed my lifestyle which means I can eat anything I want but I just check how much of it I eat. I’ve been doing this for 10 years and I feel great.
I’ve developed an app called #itsfine with nutritionist Ben Smith which shows you how much to eat over the week to get sustainable results. Honestly, every day I have a treat such as a doughnut or a piece of cake and I keep in shape.
Diets don’t work. I know people who count calories all week and binge at weekends but that’s torture. They stuff their faces with pizza, doughnuts and Mcdonald’s and eat more calories than all the ones they’ve saved up all week depriving themselves.
I don’t get that urge to binge because I know I can have a treat. I will have an apple, or salad, and nuts, but I’ll eat pasta, as well. I love cinnamon rolls so I will eat one of those when I can. I have four kids – that keeps me busy and on the go!
Are you a strict dad?
I used to be strict but I’ve changed as a person and now I’m a fair dad. My mum and dad were very strict and very religious, and instilled their values – and the values of that time - in me.
I remember sitting Junior down when he was three and saying “Pink is for girls, blue is for boys. Girls don’t kiss girls and boys don’t kiss boys.” Of course, I don’t think at all now and at 12 I told him that loving someone is the most important thing and it doesn’t matter if is a boy or a girl. That’s how much I have changed. Now I think you can be who you want to be and love who you love.
We remember you being a bit of a hypochondriac – how is that now you’re married to a doctor?
(laughs) I always think my fingers is going to drop off if I get a splinter. I remember going to Emily thinking I was ill and she was just like ‘no’.
Emily: (walks in and overhears) No I don’t. Not if it something serious.
Peter: (sounding sheepish). Well of course it was something serious, she would be sympathetic, but if it’s me being a hypochondriac she will just say get a grip.
What question do you wish you were asked but haven’t been yet?
Ooh I know. “Will you be James Bond?” I’m waiting for the movie directors to call and I’ll say “I need to check my schedule.”
But you’ve got an Australian accent, Peter, you can’t be Bond.
One of the Bonds was an Aussie wasn’t he? Was it Timothy Dalton?[It was George Lazenby]
(Switches to perfect glass-cut British accent). I can do a posh accent and talk like Bond you know, Karen.
(laughs). Yes you can! Finally, what’s the secret at still being at the top and loved by the public after 30 years?
It’s simple. Work hard, stay true to yourself and don’t be an idiot.
30 Years Celebration Show with Peter Andre, The Hawth, Crawley on Friday 24th March 2023. Tickets: £45-£59 (plus £50 for meet and greet). Every ticket holder will receive a free NFT.
