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much. Louis and Jack had torches which they kept shining on to our faces like disco lights.
    We all got on really well with Louis and Jessica. Mum wanted so much for us all to get on. She didn’t want arguments. Mum tried so hard to please my half-brother and -sister because she didn’t want them to feel left out. I understand that, due to the circumstances of how Mum and Dad fell in love, they probably didn’t want anything to do with her at the beginning. I never really understood the severity of what happened. If there was ever any resentment on Louis and Jessica’s part, then I can see why, because my dad left their mum to be with our mum. But I think as we’ve all got older, we’ve made it our business to get along and enjoy seeing each other. I have nieces and nephews – they are the cutest kids. In fact, Jessica’s kids now go to the same primary school that I went to when we were living in England.
    I F you have any half-brothers or -sisters or stepsisters or stepbrothers you have to remember that none of you chose to be born. Whatever arguments that come from having a different parent, you have to think that you didn’t ask to be brought into the situation – it’s your parents’ issue and it’s up to them to deal with it and protect you. You should never feel resentful, whether it be of your half-brother or stepsister, because what have they done wrong? In the same way, you didn’t ask for any of it to happen, so don’t take it out on each other.
    You have to work hard at building up a relationship. So many great things can come from having lots of brothers and sisters so you should embrace them. I love the fact that I have Jessica and Louis in my life and that we’re close – it makes my mum and dad really happy too. If your parents have made the decision to separate or get divorced, you have to make sure you find someone to talk to. It’s going to be a really upsetting time and you have to make sure that someone listens to you and finds out what you want to do. Whatever you do, you must never sit in silence. What you think and feel is incredibly important. The Samaritans are always there to listen, but there are many other groups out there waiting to help:

    Relate has over 600 centres in the UK that you can visit or alternatively call or email them for help and advice. You can get relationship support for you and your whole family if you’re having a rough time. They offer different services including counselling, workshops and training courses. They offer support and advice if your parents are separating or divorcing, if you are having problems living with just one parent, or if you’re having trouble getting on with your stepfamily.
    They usually charge a fee but some centres do offer lower-cost counselling sessions. Call or go via the site to find your nearest centre.

    ☎ 0300 100 1234
    www.relate.org.uk
    Childline is also a brilliant and confidential phone line; calls are free so don’t worry about them costing anything, and if you’re ringing from a landline they won’t even show up on the bill:
    ☎ 0800 1111
    www.childline.org.uk

    You can’t pick your family so if you’ve got a fucked-up one, pick some really good friends. Have smart people in your life because you learn stuff from them.

    I REALISED that my family was slightly different when I started school. The penny most definitely started to drop when I saw the other dads who sometimes came to pick up their sons and daughters. They would be standing there in their smart suits. My dad had a different job. He was somewhere in the world performing to an arena of thousands.
    I met Sammy on my first day at Gateway School when I was four. It didn’t look like a school when I drove up with my mum. It looked more like someone’s grand house. It was painted white with two chimneys on the top.
    I started to cry as soon as we stepped out of the car. As my mum pulled me along by my hand, I noticed another little girl in the same