Metro.co.uk caught up with Peter Andre ahead of the release of his children’s book later this week (Picture: Alamy/Getty)
Singer. Actor. Soon-to-be children’s author, is there anything Peter Andre can’t do? The answer, it seems, is no.
Although, according to him, he’s not a very good multitasker (more on than later).
Ahead of the release of his brand spanking new kid’s book, Super Space Kids: Save Planet Drizzlebottom, on Thursday, Metro.co.uk had the pleasure of catching up with 50-year-old Peter to talk all things… well, just all things, really.
This is your 30th year in entertainment. How does that feel?
It feels unreal. I look back and think, “Man, how lucky am I to still be here doing things that I love?”
I feel very lucky and grateful.
Emily and his wife Emily MacDonagh share two children (Picture: Instagram/peterandre)
Peter and Emily are doting parents to Millie and Theo (Picture: Instagram/dr_emily_official)
I’ve done my first feature film, it’s out later this year. It’ll be the first time I’ve seen myself in a feature film on a big screen.
I’m so excited. That’s another area I’m going to move more into now.
My mind’s constantly going. I’m constantly thinking of things.
OK, so it’s official: there’s nothing you can’t do.
I can’t multitask. When I had Theo [the six-year-old son he shares with wife Emily MacDonagh], I was so proud of myself because I had him on the rocking chair and I was using my foot to rock him while I was having a coffee and I was on the phone.
I thought that was multitasking, and Emily goes, “I don’t think you quite get the concept.”
What inspired you to create bedtime stories for your children?
What I was doing, from when Princess and Junior [Peter’s eldest two children, 15 and 17, from his relationship with ex Katie Price] were small, was instead of reading them the standard book, I used to put them down [to sleep] and go, “Let me make you up a story.”
The things that used to fascinate them the most were anything that you didn’t have physical pictures of. Things they had to create in their mind.
Then when Millie [his and Emily’s nine-year-old daughter] and Theo came along I started to really talk to them about things I was fascinated by – and that was outer space.
I started creating these ideas of all these different planets with all different issues.
For example, this book is all about this planet being grey and no one can figure out why it’s grey and everyone just accepts it for what it is.
Super Space Kids: Save Planet Drizzlebottom will be released on Thursday (Picture: Instagram/peterandre)
Scientists can’t figure out why it’s grey and it takes this little expedition of a bunch of school kids to go to visit this planet.
Millie and Theo [go to the planet] and become these superheroes – they figure out why the planet is grey.
We approached Scholastic, they loved the idea.
Through the illustration, all the bits that I was worried about losing came to life. It was just brilliant. To be able to write something that is exactly what I’ve been telling my kids.
How does writing songs compare to writing stories? Is one harder than the other?
No. If you write something, it’s obviously something you want to get out.
I’ve done songs where I’ve sat with legendary writers, like Diane Warren, who wrote for Aerosmith and Shakira, for Mariah Carey – for everybody. We wrote some beautiful songs, some we released, some we didn’t.
But then I’ve also written other songs which are ridiculous. Ideas like Insania, which can be a bit cringe, but it was in me.
So, I wanted to get it out. It still went number three, by the way, just to let everyone know.
But what I’m saying is, that it’s a similar process. I like to visualise and write things down. I love doing that. Whether it’s song or whether it’s story.
Your two eldest children are now carving out their own showbiz careers. There have been so many conflicting reports about how you feel about them following in your footsteps, can you set the record straight?
I’ll tell you exactly how I feel. Here’s the thing: Junior was not allowed to sign his record contract until he was 16.
He was coming into the studio with me and they heard him because I said get in the booth. He got in, and they said “Wow, we’d love to sign him”.
I said he’s not doing anything until he’s 16 because of school.
With Princess, she’s had brands come to her.
Peter’s two eldest children, teenagers Princess and Junior, are carving out their own showbiz careers (Picture: Instagram/peterandre)
Claire [Peter’s manager] brought PrettyLittleThing to the table. And because Claire’s known me for years, she knew there’s no way I’d let [Princess] do anything that interferes with her exams because this is a crucial year.
The deal with PrettyLittleThing was very selective. A photo here and a photo there, in her own time, after she’s done her studies, never interferes with school.
Obviously, I’d love her to build a much bigger relationship with PrettyLittleThing, but we’re having that discussion when she turns 16.
I want her exams done. I want her to put all her focus into it. School is number one, everything else is secondary.
Do you think people tend to have misconceptions about their move into showbiz. Whether it’s that they’ve been given a leg up or maybe have been nudged into the industry?
I’ve had this conversation with people. My dad was a barber. Naturally, he wanted us all to become barbers.
Naturally, kids – not all kids – like to follow in their parents’ footsteps.
For example, Junior and Princess have always come to concerts. They’ve seen what it’s like backstage. They’ve got to know how sound works, how monitors work.
My point is, even if a child does get an opportunity, whether it’s through being in the right place at the right time or happening to know someone, that kid has to work hard and that kid has to do it themselves.
If they’re no good, it’s not going to last. It’s as simple as that.
Can we ever expect new Peter Andre music?
I’m so glad you asked me that. I haven’t released an album for about eight years.
Then, last year, I said, “Do you know what? I’m going to be 50 next year, it’s marking 30 years, let’s do it.”
Peter has been in the entertainment industry for three whole decades (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)
But I won’t do it with the same thought of, “By doing it, it has to go number one.”
Forget all that. Do it because A) it marks 30 years and B) because I’ve been touring and doing gigs for years – I really want some new material. I’m doing it for that reason.
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If it’s successful, it’s an even bigger bonus.
But yes, I’ve already been writing. I’m going to do it later this year. 100%.
Peter’s first children’s book with Scholastic, Super Space Kids: Save Planet Drizzlebottom, will be released on Thursday April 27.
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