Sophie Ellis-Bextor says playing shows is like dating.

The 35-year-old musician admits she no longer suffers from stage-fright before performing gigs, but does find the process similar to going on a date because there's always the worry of having nothing to say.

She told BANG Showbiz: ''I don't get nervous, especially since doing 'Strictly Come Dancing', nothing could be scarier. But it does feel a bit like dating because you always wonder how they will react.''

The 'Young Blood' singer - who has sons Sonny, 10, Kit, six, and Ray Holiday, two, with her husband Richard Jones of The Feeling - explained because singing live feels so similar to romancing a partner, her only pre-performance ritual is to think of funny stories or anecdotes to tell while on stage in an attempt to stop her from rambling incoherently.

She added: ''Before I go on stage, I'm usually just thinking of things to say. I do tend to think of topics of conversation before I go on stage to talk about with the audience which are interesting, because otherwise I just ramble on.''

Sophie Ellis-Bextor is spearheading the latest campaign from Wrigley, 'The Chew O'clock Challenge', promoting the oral care benefits of chewing sugar-free gum, and encouraging parents to get their family chewing gum at 4pm after post-school snacks, when teeth are at risk from lingering foods.