I don’t mean that if you’re a Christian, walking close to God, you will immediately gain celebrity. you may fail as an artist, because you may not have what the public want at that time, and you have to be prepared for that.

Of course, when I started my career, like anyone else who was 16 at the time, we were besotted by the rock-n-roll scene from America, and all I was interested in was having a career of my own.

I’m very grateful because my fans are very loyal.

About two months ago I finished a gospel tour.

I involve myself in an organisation called Tear Fund.

Celebrities meet a lot of people and we just can’t maintain them all in our fuddled brains.

But Portugal has a peaceful feel about it. I sit on the terrace overlooking the vineyard there and I feel cut off from the world. You need that sort of thing.

When I became a Christian my confidence grew.

If you have got the public in the palm of your hand, you can be sure that is where they want to be.

And, of course, Barbados is the other place where I like to be.

There is no better news, than the fact that Jesus can actually turn a life upside down and save it.

There’s loads of things you can do to make things easy for your throat, you can drink a bit of lemon and hot water couple of spoons of honey, you can gargle with port, I’ve done it a couple of times myself – but don’t swallow it!

But Jesus changes your attitude towards yourself and towards other people.

If you can play guitar and sing, you can probably get a gig down the road playing at a restaurant, but don’t throw your life away chasing something that is so elusive it will only lead you to regret and may turn you bitter.

Our industry is full of all sorts of eccentricities and one of them is owning property.

It’s important to put all I have into my career.

I don’t mean that if you’re a Christian, walking close to God, you will immediately gain celebrity. you may fail as an artist, because you may not have what the public want at that time, and you have to be prepared for that.

I realised that God has placed Christians everywhere, to support each other, to support the needy in those areas, and that is the thing that I find is a great plus.

I’ve got two places I like to be. Portugal is one.

But if you have a solid walk with the Lord, then you won’t fear that failure.

If I’m going to represent God I have to do it the best I can.

I can say I have become far more open about what I believe.

But, of course, one relies on the everyday people who just simply like your music, for whom you may not be a hobby but they enjoy being in your presence at a concert.

When you use music to worship you are not attempting to entertain.

The thrill of hearing your own voice recorded is still there, I still love it, going into the studio and thinking how can I sing this song and between the producers and the musicians you find a way of doing it.

Someone recommended that I read the Bible, and it was then I discovered that I knew nothing about it.

We need to be adopted by God through Jesus – that was what happened to me, and that’s what changed my life so that now, I can see that my career can be part of a calling.

When you’re out there with thousands of people it’s probably better to have a bigger show to look at, and it turned out really well and they videoed it for me.

So I will go as far as I can into rock and roll carrying my Christian banner.

It is important to have a circle of Christians friends, which I do have.

I have a group of people, about 40, in a local church in Surrey in England, who pray for me regularly.

When I use music on stage, the prime directive is to entertain the public, so it is different.

The more I read my Bible the more I veered away from the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

It’s the business I’m in, I can’t say that signing things is the favourite part of my career but you know that it has to be done and that there is no pain involved.

I have tried to have a regular daily intake from my Bible, regardless of how late it is.

We need to pray and read the Bible every day, and regardless of whatever else happens to you, that tends to keep you close to Him, because you are constantly in touch through His Word.

Financial support is one thing, but I always think what becomes really sacrificial is your time.

The only advice I would give Christians entering the world of arts: give yourself a period of time, maybe three or four years. If you haven’t made it in your chosen art form, dump it.