This much I know: Singer Jake Carter

My songs are like my babies.

I’m constantly making notes on my phone, for lyrics and melodies. I write about everyday life, that’s what people can relate to.

And I also work with a group of other writers from all over the world. Sometimes the lyrics come first, in a rush — like for my latest single ‘I Won’t Be Leaving’.

I’m a singer, so the panto is a challenge for me.

I’ve never taken any acting classes, but it’s my third time to do panto so I must be doing something right. I played Aladdin twice and this year I’m Prince Charming!

I was a confident child, I always liked performing but I wasn’t a massive attention seeker. I was never bold.

Growing up in Liverpool, I was always into music and performing whether in school, doing plays or concerts, or at home where I grew up on traditional music and started playing the fiddle when I was six and the bodhrán before that.

My parents wanted me to go to university but, after I sat my A levels, I started gigging in pubs and then I met my band when I was 18 and I’m very happy that I did so.

I moved over to Enniskillen to live with my brother Nathan when I was 18. Having a famous older brother can be both a help and a hindrance. He helped me out a lot but the downside is that people constantly compare me to him — my music is much more pop.

I try to compartmentalise my life, but the nature of my work makes this difficult. I could be doing a gig one week and presenting a TV show the next.

And of course having iPhones means I’m constantly contactable — I rarely turn the phone off.

I keep in shape by going to the gym three to four mornings a week. The gym is enough for my mental health too.

My idea of misery would be an office job. I love moving about and being in different places.

I think ambition is more important than talent. There are loads of successful people, in all spheres, who are not the most talented but they are the most driven and focussed.

My idea of bliss is to be doing this — singing — for the rest of my life. Hearing people sing your own songs back to you is fantastic.

They say the day you don’t have any nerves at all is the day you should hang up your boots. Nerves keep you focussed and not too relaxed.

It was RTE’s Late Late show 2016 that really launched myself and the band. Gigs and festivals started to book us after that.

My biggest challenge so far was appearing on Dancing with the Stars. It completely takes over your life for four months. I had never danced or really been on TV much before so I was new to all the showbiz style and had to learn quickly.

The show changed my life in other ways too as it is where I met my girlfriend [his dancing partner, with whom he won the competition] Karen.

The best advice I ever received is that to fail to prepare is to prepare to fail.

I’m organised, to the point of being a bit OCD.

If I could be reborn as someone for a day I’d be Paul McCartney. I’d love to be in his shoes back when he was starting out.

My greatest fear is snakes.

I’m a Catholic. I go to church — not as much as I should do though. I like to believe there is an afterlife.

My biggest fault is not spending enough time with my family.

The lesson that I’ve learned in life so far is to be kind and to enjoy life. We really are here for a good time, not a long time.

Jake Carter is appearing as Prince Charming in the Cheerios Panto Cinderella — tickets are on sale now from the dedicated box office number 01 906 0111 with the show running until January 5.