The world according to Peter Andre...

HE may be one of the most recognisable faces – and torsos – on TV, but Peter Andre believes he has yet to make his mark.

The singer, reality television star and single dad is among our best-known celebrities and his record sales have topped a million. Though still he feels a bit...well... undervalued.

“I’ve never been properly taken seriously in this country,” he tells me, while unwinding in London.

“But my music is getting stronger and stronger.”

So strong is Andre’s celebrity persona, it is all to easy to forget that the 39-year-old Australian, is, first and foremost, a singer - catching our ears with 90s hits Mysterious Girl and Flava... and the eyes of even more with that famous ‘six pack’.

A lot has happened in the meantime - a spell in the jungle, marriage to – and separation from – Katie Price, fatherhood and his own television shows - yet he still sees himself as a working musician. And, he says, he has never been more serious about his craft.

Last month saw the release of his ninth long player Angels & Demons. The follow up to platinum selling studio albums Revelation and Accelerate, the record is his most accomplished to date, and he is confident it will be seen as his “landmark” album.

“Lyrically I’m really very proud of it,” he says. “It is very deep.”

And, he says, its title track has special meaning. “It’s about that battle between angels and demons which we all have,” he explains. “There is good in life and negative in life, and voices saying ‘do this’ or ‘don’t do that’. But I’m saying ‘you know what? I appreciate you angels and demons, but leave me alone!’.

“Life is what it is and you’ve got to get on with it. Basically God’s hand is stronger than angels and demons.”

The singer and Bad Boyfriend Club presenter celebrates with a tour of the UK, which, on November 20, reaches Oxford’s New Theatre. And, he says, he can’t wait to get in front of his fans again.

The gig will be Peter’s first appearance in the county since he addressed the Oxford Union earlier this year.

“I’m looking forward to coming back to Oxford,” he says. “I have been there many times before and have always thought of it as the ultimate English city. I was very honoured to have been invited to the Oxford Union.”

This gig, he insists, is not only going to be an impressive musical show – it is also going to be visually striking.

“And what makes this tour different is it’s going to be the best pop show yet,” he says.

“Rock concerts are amazing, but I’m working on something different. I have three different depths of screen so that it appears to be a 3D illusion. And I’m going to become part of the Magic Circle so I will be doing tricks on stage.”

“Whether people like me or not, I want them to say ‘that’s an amazing show’. “It will be an hour and a half of pure entertainment.”

The show follows an impromptu, and somewhat surreal, guest appearance at Thame Carnival last year. Peter, who had been in the town to film an episode of his ITV2 programme Here to Help, boosted proceedings by persuading businesses to donate raffle prizes, handing out flyers, turning up to a meeting of the carnival committee and bringing a samba band to town.

It was in Thame that he also met the late Bee Gee Robin Gibb. The two were friends and the 70s disco legend wrote Peter a song before his death. Peter plans to release the record early next year to raise money for charity.

“I have a song written by Robin but I didn’t pick it for the album,” he says. “It is still too soon since he left us. I’ll do that later. “There will be a tribute to Robin on the tour, though I’m not going to say what it is.”

He is, however, prepared to give one secret away: “There will be a rock section with a Bon Jovi classic... You Give Love a Bad Name!”

and is it dedicated to anyone in particular? He laughs again. “Not that song,” he says. “But listen to Fly Away and you might recognise what it’s about!”

As a single dad to children Junior, seven, and Princess Tiaamii Andrea, five, Peter is prouder of his role as a dad as he is of his showbiz career. He also looks after Price’s son Harvey as his own.

And while he is reluctant to discuss anything to do with former glamour model Price (“I never talk about that,” he says), he is more than happy to tell me about his relationship with new girlfriend Emily. The couple met after her doctor father removed his kidney stones two years ago and are, he says, very much in love.

“Everything is great and wonderful,” he says. “I’m finally getting a balance between work and my personal life, which was a big problem before. I focused so much on my work and kids I didn’t have any time for my personal life.”

“Now my management plan my itinerary and cram all my work in while the kids are not here. “The other day Junior asked me ‘Do you do anything?’ That’s because I’m here when he leaves and when he gets back.

“I am enjoying my life with them now, before they have their own lives,” he adds. “After that they’ll go and off and have kids of their own. Though the world ‘granddad sends shivers up my spine. I’d rather stick with being a ‘great dad’ than a ‘granddad’!

“Anyway, my daughter is going to be a nun so it’s not going to happen with her.”

What? “Yeah, I subliminally told her that before she was being born.”

So does he see himself as a protective father – vetting potential suitors? “I don’t want her to have any boyfriends at all!” he laughs.

He is refreshingly at ease talking about his family, every inch the proud dad.

“I don’t blame people asking about my life,” he says. “I’ve got a reality show so I can’t be silly and not talk about it.”

That show, Peter Andre: My Life is remarkably candid. Why, I wonder, did he choose to put his life under the spotlight by revealing all in front of the cameras, eight years after I’m a Celebrity..., the show which relaunched his career? He laughs. “I looked at the Osbournes who also did a show and I thought it was so cool. “And now I’m doing it I love it. It seems to touch people who like seeing a single dad with his kids. I can’t call it work. “The film crew just follow you and watch what you do. It’s not staged.”

And can he select which parts go out and what remains on the cutting room floor? “No, I don’t have any control over editing – or even get to see it.”

Peter seems so unrelentingly cheerful, I have to ask him if there is anything that dents that happiness?

“The thing that makes me sad is negativity,” he says suddenly turning reflective.

“I don’t like it near me or around me. Everyone has problems but we have to make the most of the life we’ve got.”

* Peter is giving away a pair of tickets to see his Oxford show - for more details buy today's (Nov 8) Oxford Mail

• Peter Andre’s Up Close and Personal tour comes to the New Theatre, Oxford, on Tuesday, November 20.
• Tickets cost from £29.50 to £76 from atgtickets.com/oxford or by calling 0844 8713020