Andre wants to ape Robbie

Peter Andre wants to be as successful as Robbie Williams.

The 36-year-old singer – whose new single ‘Behind Closed Doors’ is released in the UK today – is convinced his latest musical offering will be a hit and will allow him to follow in the footsteps of the former Take That star.

He told Britain’s The Sun newspaper: “When Elton John, Rod Stewart and people like that were signed up they had seven-album deals. It will take me two or three credible albums to be mentioned in the same breath but that’s what I aspire to.

“I believe I can do what Robbie Williams did. People gave Robbie s**t for being the fat kid from Take That when he was doing ‘Freedom’. He felt how I feel now.”

Andre insists he is not worried about his forthcoming LP being released later this year, along with the ‘Angels’ hitmaker new record.

He added: “We’re going head-to-head. I don’t like losing. Robbie is a nice guy and I’ve always admired him.”

Williams is due to release new album ‘Reality Killed the Video Star’ in November, after Andre’s LP ’Control’ comes out on September 14.

Meanwhile, Andre is being comforted by his “first love” as he copes with his split from glamour model Katie Price.

The singer has reportedly been spending hours on the phone to former ‘Home and Away’ actress Laura Vasquez – who he dated for two years in the 90s – as he deals with his impending divorce.

A source said: “They have been back in touch although she lives in Sydney and is now married with a child. Laura was Pete’s first love – she was only 20 at the time. She was crushed when it was over and still carries a torch for him even though she’s married with a family.”

Since filing for divorce from the glamour model earlier this year, the muscular musician has thrown himself into an exercise and healthy eating regime and has just signed a £1.5m (€1.75m) cookbook deal.

A source told Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper: “This will really drive Katie round the bend – Pete’s empire just keeps on growing. Kate prized herself on having best-selling books, it was one of the things that made her more of a housewife than a party girl. But now Pete is riding high and more and more success is coming his way since their split.”