Katie Melua: My bike star husband got me back on track

Katie Melua says the “dark times” are behind her thanks to her “spectacular” husband, motorbike racer James Toseland.

The multi-platinum-selling singer met the former World Superbike Champion in 2011, shortly after spending six weeks in hospital following a “petrifying” nervous breakdown.

In an interview with the Standard, she said Toseland was her “rock”, adding: “I am all well and fit now. Those dark times are behind me. It has a lot to do with the fact I have been married to a spectacular man. The music has helped too, it has been a real soul feeder.”

Melua, now 32, was spotted aged 18 performing at the BRIT School by producer Mike Batt.

Her first two albums both reached No 1 and included her most famous singles The Closest Thing To Crazy and Nine Million Bicycles.

She said she had a love-hate relationship with her two best-known tracks after performing them all the time but had grown to love them again. Melua, who moved from Georgia to Britain as a child, now lives in Holland Park and said she found the capital “really inspiring” for her songwriting.

The singer was speaking as it was announced she will perform two intimate gigs on July 25 and 26 at Cadogan Hall, Chelsea, as part of the new Amazon Prime Live Events. Blondie, Texas and Alison Moyet will also be performing in the series, which gives Prime members access to smaller concerts with top artists.

Buy tickets via tickets.amazon.co.uk from 9am on Thursday. Tickets are £75.