Joss Stone

She dressed as a sausage on TV and spent millions to be free of a record deal. Music star Joss Stone says her goal now happiness.

But I would like to keep my complex, and it’s up to you to nurture it,”’ she chortles. It was impossible to sing publicly, so all the guides met secretly, which was crazy and scary, in this hidden part of an old building.’ Joss had purchased a karaoke machine to plug in her microphone and keyboard, with which she performed for just half an hour, ‘because I didn’t want anyone to get in trouble. ‘When I was being deported, I just suddenly thought of him and called and said, “I’m so gutted, can you be my silver lining?” He flew to Barcelona, I met him there and we’ve been together ever since.’ Before this, Joss was getting so worried she might never have babies, she was on the verge of having her eggs frozen. If you talk to them about the idea that North Korea is a horrible place, they’ll say, “What are you talking about?” We’re all indoctrinated in our own way – we like the way we live and they like the way they live. I was like that for a few years because I thought it was the right thing to do. Joss says the (now divorced) couple always told their children, ‘“You do not have to do anything you don’t want to do.” I knew I had a responsibility: if you’re unhappy, it’s on you, because you have a choice.’ ‘Well, I sang in the shower at the hotel as loud as I could!’ I made her a Cocomelon cake – it’s a children’s character – and kept singing “Happy Birthday” to her. You can’t take that from me, and I don’t give a s*** about the rest.’ Worth an estimated £11 million and having duetted with James Brown and Smokey Robinson, why did she want to compete against the likes of Lenny Henry and Glenn Hoddle? Joss chuckles, ‘I thought you just sang in front of the panel, then took your mask off and you’re done. Maverick music star Joss Stone’s goal now is the pursuit of happiness – and that means having lots of children, she tells Julia Llewellyn Smith.