The uber music producer is such the man about town that during the interview he delivers his sister a Chanel handbag that Lily Allen had reserved for him. The suit he's wearing to the Glamour Awards (Man of the Year, obviously) is "almost in homage" to Dean Martin. It's a life that Heat readers can only dream of, says The Times. With his looks and success he must indulge in a love life that would also impress Heat's readership? "Let's just say there's enough chaos in my life and I prefer being by myself or being with just one person," he says. Albeit the "just one person" is model Daisy Lowe, how come he is so sensible? His mum, he says. She made him work summer jobs and come home at 9.30pm when his friends were out til midnight. He's grateful now for not turning out like an idiot, but the teenage Mark didn't sound the same way: "She's such a hard-arse! She sucks!"

We can't all write hits, but Sharleen describes a feeling when songwriting comes together that we do know: "It's like when you were a kid and and you used to run up school corridors: that slight fear of getting caught, but excitement at the same time. It's like you almost don't want to say it to anyone." She also didn't want to say to Texas, her band of 22 years, quite how she felt after splitting from the father of her child after 10 years: "Because they're my mates… I didn't want them to see my weaknesses." So she made this record alone. One friend she can let loose with is comedian Peter Kay: who she divulges recently led a conga round her kitchen to Mr Blue Sky. And she took his advice to include the track Day Tripping after she'd decided to leave it off the album. He was laid out on her settee with a cup of tea: "Are you deaf? That's never a B-side!"