Sophie Ellis-Bextor

It's hard to feel comfortable in your own skin when you're younger.

Turning the thermostat down is something that I do pretty reluctantly. I like to be able to walk around in whatever I fancy at home.

I'm someone who has always been quite clear about what I like. In the studio, I'm not a control freak but I know what I want.

I'm a little bit allergic to the whole brand thing to be honest but maybe it's just happening around me and I'm not really aware of it.

I learned to stand up for myself at school where I was never too popular.

A lot of what inspired many musicians is celebrating differences, and people relate to that - more people feel like the unpopular, freaky one than the one in the in-crowd.

I love getting dressed up. Being a pop star is the most brilliant job for that. A lot of girls love shopping, but they might see the most amazing outfit and think, 'When am I going to wear that?', so it's my duty to exploit the fact I do have events I can wear these things to.

I really love being in London at weekends - there's always so much to do.

I would love to record something with PJ Harvey or Alison Goldfrapp.

I'd never really thought about it before, but now you ask I can see that how my parents handled money definitely affected my relationship with it.

My parents separated when I was four. It wasn't the smoothest of divorces, but then as my mother always says, you can't have a passionate marriage without a passionate divorce.

Yes, being educated is definitely an advantage. But having said that, I've met so many people in life who haven't done very well at school but who are still really bright.