I'm very confident. Even when I read people saying horrible stuff about my weight.

I don't write songs about a specific, elusive thing. I write about love, and everyone knows what it is like to have your heart broken.

It has gotten worse as I'm becoming more successful. My nerves. Just because there's a bit more pressure, and people are expecting a lot more from me.

I no longer buy papers or tabloids or magazines or read blogs. I used to.

I'm nervous whenever I perform.

People are starting to go on about my weight but I'm not going to change my size because they don't like the way I look.

I love a card. You know, cards? At birthdays? I collect them.

I think it's shameful when you sell out. It depends what kind of artist you wanna be, but I don't want my name anywhere near another brand.

In the songs I can still be really really direct but in interviews when I'm explaining my songs I shouldn't be so direct about who they're about.

I wouldn't be able to write a song like 'Someone Like You' and get someone else to sing it because it's so personal. It's like giving away your heart.

I don't really need to stand out, there's room for everyone. Although I haven't built a niche yet, I'm just writing love songs.

Heartbreak can definitely give you a deeper sensibility for writing songs. I drew on a lot of heartbreak when I was writing my first album, I didn't mean to but I just did.

I get so nervous on stage I can't help but talk. I try. I try telling my brain: stop sending words to the mouth. But I get nervous and turn into my grandma. Behind the eyes it's pure fear. I find it difficult to believe I'm going to be able to deliver.

I don't date celebrities.

The thought of someone spending $20 to come and see me and saying, 'Oh, I prefer the record and she's completely shattered the illusion' really upsets me. It's such a big deal that people come give me their time.

There is nothing that would upset me more than my dad being bribed by the press. It's like, 'Just let them run it, then. Don't you give them ammunition.'

I don't like going to the gym.

I can't believe I did a peace sign on TV - like Ringo Starr!

I will not do festivals. The thought of an audience that big frightens the life out of me.

Crying is really bad for your vocal cords.

I've never wanted to look like models on the cover of magazines. I represent the majority of women and I'm very proud of that.

It's warts and all in my songs, and I think that's why people can relate to them.

I'm scared of audiences. One show in Amsterdam I was so nervous, I escaped out the fire exit. I've thrown up a couple of times. Once in Brussels, I projectile vomited on someone. I just gotta bear it. But I don't like touring. I have anxiety attacks a lot.

If I were a writer and not a singer in 10 years, I don't know how I'd feel about writing really personal songs and getting someone else to sing them.

Sometimes with pop music, you have to see it to love it. With soul music, it's sparse. There's nothing that's pretentious or planned. It's just so gutsy.

The way I write my songs is that I have to believe what I'm writing about, and that's why they always end up being so personal - because the kind of artists I like, they convince me, they totally win me over straight away in that thing. Like, 'Oh my God, this song is totally about me.'

I love a bit of drama. That's a bad thing. I can flip really quickly.

I am quite loud and bolshie. I'm a big personality. I walk into a room, big and tall and loud.

I don't want to be in everyone's face. I'm a big music fan, and I get really pissed off when it gets like that... and I don't want people to get like that with me.

I like having my hair and face done, but I'm not going to lose weight because someone tells me to. I make music to be a musician not to be on the cover of Playboy.

I've never been more normal than I am now.

I'm really happy to be me, and I'd like to think people like me more because I'm happy with myself and not because I refuse to conform to anything.

I've always written down how I feel.

I'm scared of audiences.

In five years' time I'd like to be a mum. I want to settle down and have a family, definitely sooner rather than later. I'd like to have finished my second album too, maybe even my third. I'd like a sound that sticks around that other people are inspired by and that people know is me.

I've got some news... I'm delighted to announce that Simon and I are expecting our first child together. I wanted you to hear the news direct from me, obviously we're over the moon.

I don't want people confusing what it is that I'm about. I just stand there and sing. And I don't do stunts or anything. if I wanted to do all that, I don't think I'd get away with it.

Mum loves me being famous! She is so excited and proud, as she had me so young and couldn't support me, so I am living her dream, it's sweeter for both of us. It's her 40th birthday soon and I'm going to buy her 40 presents.

Sometimes my songs wander off a bit and are not always coherent.

I don't want to be a celebrity. I don't want to be in people's faces, you know, constantly on covers of magazine that I haven't even known I'm on.

I was adopting an Ethiopian child, that's not true. My house was haunted, that wasn't true. God, there's been so many rumours.

I can't write another breakup record. That would be a real cliche.

There will be no new music until it's good enough and until I'm ready.

I am quite loud and bolshie.

I love hearing my audience breathe.

I have never been insecure, ever, about how I look, about what I want to do with myself. My mum told me to only ever do things for myself, not for others.

I don't make music for eyes. I make music for ears.

I have insecurities of course, but I don't hang out with anyone who points them out to me.

I've been singing properly every day since I was about fifteen or sixteen, and I have never had any problems with my voice, ever. I've had a sore throat here and there, had a cold and sung through it, but that day it just went while I was onstage in Paris during a radio show. It was literally like someone had pulled a curtain over it.

I find it quite difficult to think that there's, you know, about 20 million people listening to my album that I wrote very selfishly to get over a breakup. I didn't write it being that it's going to be a hit.

My worst fear is my music won't connect with the public.

I love love songs. But I love pop music as well: Girls Aloud, Kylie, the Spice Girls, East 17, Mika.

My body doesn't have any rhythm, you know. I've got quite good rhythm when I'm singing but my feet are very much two left feet.

I no longer buy papers or tabloids or magazines or read blogs. I used to. But it was just filling up my day with hatred.

I can't dance to save my life.

Even if I did have, you know, a 'Sports Illustrated' body, I'd still wear elegant clothes.

I doubt I'll be singing forever, because at some point people aren't going to want to hear my music, and I hope that I'll still get the opportunity to write songs.

You can't complain about your dressing room or you'll look like Celine Dion.

The focus on my appearance has really surprised me. I've always been a size 14 to 16, I don't care about clothes, I'd rather spend my money on cigarettes and booze.

I just want to make music, I don't want people to talk about me. All I've ever wanted to do was sing. I don't want to be a celebrity. I don't want to be in people's faces, you know, constantly on covers of magazine that I haven't even known I'm on.

I'd love to be an artist always, but if no one wants me, I'd love to write songs for other people, be a manager, nurture new talent.

I like looking nice, but I always put comfort over fashion. I don't find thin girls attractive; be happy and healthy. I've never had a problem with the way I look. I'd rather have lunch with my friends than go to a gym.

People think that I popped out of my mother's womb singing 'Chasing Pavements'.

I wanted to be a singer forever. But it's not really my cup of tea. Having the whole world know who you are.

It's never been an issue for me - I don't want to go on a diet, I don't want to eat a Caesar salad with no dressing, why would I do that? I ain't got time for this, just be happy and don't be stupid. If I've got a boyfriend and he loves my body then I'm not worried.

You have to prioritize what you stress about when you have a child.

I don't write songs about a specific, elusive thing.

I was about to meet Beyonce, and I had a full-blown anxiety attack. Then she popped in looking gorgeous, and said, 'You're amazing! When I listen to you I feel like I'm listening to God.'

If I am constantly working, my relationships fail. So at least now I can have enough time to write a happy record. And be in love and be happy. And then I don't know what I'll do. Get married. Have some kids. Plant a nice vegetable patch.

Americans are always mortified when I tell them this, but in England, it's a tradition to put your plaques and photographs and awards and gold records and stuff in your bathroom. I don't know why.

I am never writing a breakup record again, by the way. I'm done with being a bitter witch.

I want to go and see things as a fan again. I am a fan, but I can't remember what it feels like to be a fan anymore. Because I've become an artist. I've become the artist.

My life is full of drama, and I don't have time to worry about something as petty as what I look like.

I don't rely on my figure to sell records.

I'm like Johnny Cash. I only wear black.

My voice went recently, never happened before, off like a tap. I had to sit in silence for nine days, chalkboard around my neck. Like an old-school mime. Like a kid in the naughty corner. Like a Victorian mute.

I'm a big personality. I walk into a room, big and tall and loud.