Handing out leaflets for a European coach trip wearing just lederhosen, in February and March in Surrey. It was freezing, and I got fired.

I had to clean up the sump pump [toilet system] in my house because my sister and I flushed things we shouldn’t have.

A shoot with a showbusiness icon who I’d loved all my life and shall remain nameless. She walked into the room and immediately said she hated everything. Things went downhill from there. Rough day.

When Rufus first came out, it was all white guys and myself, but then the band changed and Tony Maiden, Bobby Watson and Andre Fischer came in. This guy booked us for a gig in Illinois, based on our original album cover, and when we got there he said that there were too many black people in the band. He actually put some white guys on the stage with us.

When I was seven or eight, I got run over and was actually under the car, which was scary. I just ran out; it was totally my fault. I was fine – all I got was a tiny scar on my knee.

I would edit my worry, because I suffer from anxiety, which ruins some moments.

My mother: she’s an inspiration. She went back to college in her 40s, started karate and became a black belt.

As a good person who was kind, funny, and a little bit naughty.

To Jade, my other half, because I can be hard work sometimes, and he is the most calm and understanding person I’ve ever met.

An English teacher, and then a dance teacher.