“I think sometimes I don’t realise how much the pressure gets to me.”

Let’s just say I haven’t been keeping up the Gary Barlow persona; I’ve let loose.

I’d just like to be able to walk outside as everyone does and enjoy time with my friends, not feel bad for not wanting to take a picture.

People sometimes ask if I want to be a solo artist, but it just wouldn’t be any fun being on your own.

I really liked one girl and asked her out 22 times, but she always said no. Finally I sang to her, and she said she’d go out with me.

I’m doing a two-hour show every day, so you can eat what you want.

I listened to a lot of Jay-Z and Kanye coming up, which would be unexpected for a boy bander like me. But I’d listen to a lot of that, and a lot of Ed Sheeran, actually.

When I think about it, I do start to worry about this whole social media thing. It does make me uncomfortable; kids should be out, living their lives, getting out and enjoying themselves.

It’s so amazing to hear a crowd of people singing one of your songs. It’s the best feeling.

The feather was a thing, when I was a kid, we used to find feathers around the house, and whenever we found them, my mum used to say it was my nan leaving them around for us to find, so that was quite sweet.

I had a few dating disasters along the way with girls cheating on me. One girl was the inspiration for me singing ‘Cry Me A River’ on ‘The X Factor.’ That was my payback to her because she was unfaithful.

It’s important to have a life outside the band.

On our American tour bus, the bunks are a bit taller so that we don’t bash our heads. On the English bus, we bash our heads every morning. It’s not the best thing to do first thing when you wake up.

I think I’ve changed a little bit. I don’t know whether it’s for the better or for the worse at the moment. I’ve settled into a different mind frame now… being a bit wilder maybe!

I think the whole thing, boy band, it’s a little bit of a dirty word. They say it’s not a good thing to be in a boy band. We want to change that. We want to make the boy band cool. It’s not just about dancing and dressing the same.

I’ve still got both kidneys, but one doesn’t work, so I have to be careful not to drink too much, even water, and I have to keep myself as healthy as possible.

I had a test on my kidneys a few weeks back and found out I have two.

When I look at young kids today I just don’t believe it, parents take away the Gameboy and they’re suicidal. They cannot take the pressure.

Do what you want to do, and don’t feel pressure to do what other people want.

No pressure, no diamonds.

Don’t be pushed by your problems, be led by your dreams. Govern your life by priorities not your pressures.

We can lick gravity, but sometimes the paperwork is overwhelming.

I think sports for kids is the greatest thing in the world because it teaches you how to share, about winning and losing and pressure. But I don’t think you should force your kid to become a professional athlete.

I think a lot of parents live their lives through the kids. Because they didn’t make it [achieve something], they want their kids to make it. It puts a lot of undue pressure on the kids.

Apply pressure, chill and repeat.