Mick Hucknall was like "a kid in a sweet shop" when it came to female attention

Mick, who has since denied he was being serious with the claim, told The Sunday Times Magazine: "I was a kid in a sweet shop who couldn't believe his luck."

The singer was romantically linked with the likes of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Helena Christensen but insists that his female encounters were "always mutual".

The 65-year-old star - who has been married to art dealer Gabriella Wesberry since 2010 - explained: "It was always mutual.

"You want to be attractive and, in my psychology, imposing yourself on someone is the complete opposite of being desired. Somebody desiring you is what makes me tick. Imposing myself on somebody does not make me tick at all."

Mick was raised by his dad Reg after being abandoned by his mother Maureen at the age of three and thinks that the lack of a maternal figure in his life left him unprepared for stardom.

The Fairground singer said: "I found fame incredibly culturally shocking.

"I just didn't have any social skills, because boys really look up to their mothers to see how to talk to girls, or behave. I had none of that.

"Once my babysitter stopped looking after me when I was 10, I looked after myself. So when I became famous I didn't know what I was doing."

Hucknall was scarred by his mother's absence and decided to take time out from his music career when he and Gabriella welcomed their daughter Romy, 18, in 2007 after being inspired to follow his dad's example.

Asked if he did so because of his mother's actions, he said: "Well, it's a slight opposite.

"My father was incredibly devoted to me and it was more that than anything. I stopped touring because I knew I wanted to be there for her in the way my dad was for me. It's the best thing I ever did."