2 January 2022

James Blunt kept “lying” to his wife about his career plans.

James Blunt was thankful COVID-19 gave him more time at home

The ‘You’re Beautiful’ hitmaker was grateful the coronavirus pandemic allowed him to spend more time with his spouse Sofia and their two sons because he’d spent so long promising her he’d take a break for a year in order to be around with them.

He admitted: “I’ve been on tour for 17 years and I’d been lying to my wife saying I’d take a year out and spend time at home – then the pandemic forced my hand.

“And it was amazing. I felt very, very fortunate to be able to do that.”

James admitted keeping his personal life private is “a conundrum”.

He said “I’d rather not even mention I have children but then my job is to write deeply personl things that people connect with because they shre the same emotions.

“I do find it incredibly hard to know where I’m comfortable stopping.”

And the 47-year-old singer doesn’t think he’s the right person to ask for relationship advice, although he and Sofia have been together for nine years.

He joked: “I’m probably not the person to ask about love because lots of my songs are about lost love, missed chances of love, or broken love.

“The secret to long-lasting love? I have no idea.

“My father’s advice was, ‘Be kind to each other’, which seems like simple advice for all relationships.”

James is “emotionally stunted” so is pleased his music gives him the opportunity to express his feelings.

He told Red magazine: “I’m known for soppy, overemotional music, so the notion of me not being able to shed a tear seems silly, but then I’m an ex-military, ex-boarding-school English male, with almost no emotion associated with me at all. I’m emotionally stunted.

“But I capture how I feel through my songs.”