‘I did meet David Beckham at a party once’: Singer Jessie Ware’s night to remember

Jessie Ware is a British musician best known for her six Brit Awards nominations. Here, the 39-year-old talks about her relationship with her father, going to primary school with her now-husband and the time she met David Beckham.

Jessie Ware had a great primary school teacher who made her realise she could sing.Credit: JACK GRANGE

My maternal grandfather, Morley Keell, is from a Ukrainian-Russian-Jewish family and was born in Belfast, Ireland. His parents escaped a pogrom via a boat to Ireland, with the aim to get to the US, but they remained there. They changed their surname from Rutenberg to Keell to fit in.

My maternal grandparents fought like cats and dogs but fancied the pants off each other; they were incredibly passionate. He was a bit grumpy, but fabulous. He died when I was 10. Our son, aged two, looks a lot like him.

My paternal grandfather died falling off a mountain. He loved rock climbing. My dad, John Ware, lost him when he was a young boy, so all I knew about him was this tragic ending. My dad also lost his mum in a car accident.

My dad is an investigative journalist and still works in his late 70s. He met Mum [Helena] in Manchester on a blind date and they went to a roller disco. They were quite incompatible and separated when I was 10. Dad spent a lot of time away for work.

Dad and I had a fractious relationship. I punished him for many years and didn’t see him. We are in a good place now. He was always great on holidays with us as kids.

I was dressed up as Madonna, wearing a blonde wig and a cone bra Mum had made me, which I wore over a leotard.

JESSIE WARE

My brother, Alexander, is three years younger than me and is my mother’s favourite. He is the Jewish doctor of the family. He is teaching anaesthetics in Ethiopia and works incredibly hard.

My sister, Hannah, and I used to torment Alex when he was younger. Once, we tied him up outside our caravan in Wales in the pissing rain and left him there for hours.

My first kiss was with a boy called Michael at my 11th birthday party. I was dressed up as Madonna, wearing a blonde wig and a cone bra Mum had made me, which I wore over a leotard.

I had a great primary school teacher, Mr McMillan, who made me realise I could sing. I was socially confident, but awkward performing, even though I loved it. He championed me, which was lovely for my confidence.

I went to a private London school where I had a fabulous theatre teacher, Mr Hodgkinson. He wore a cravat and cast me in musicals at 15. He was kind and had so much flair and character.

I had many celebrity crushes growing up. My first was with Robbie Williams in Take That, then actor Leonardo DiCaprio, and David Beckham. I was obsessed with football. I had Robbie on the podcast I do with my mum called Table Manners.

I did meet David Beckham at a party once: we are both UNICEF ambassadors and he told me we had met before. I mumbled something back, but was like, no, I would remember that!

My husband, Sam Burrows, and I met at primary school. Our wedding invite was the year 6 swimming team school photo of us standing next to each other. We didn’t speak then, but knew of each other. We would see each other at raves as teenagers.

I texted Sam and suggested a date. He said yes. He used to work at the fish counter at Sainsbury’s and could only meet on a Saturday evening. He said he washed his hands for hours before our date so he wouldn’t smell of fish. We had cocktails and I fell for him.

We did break up for a few years but got back together. We got married on the Greek island of Skopelos. Next year is our 10-year wedding anniversary. We have three kids and he’s my best mate.

Sam doesn’t try to compete with me. He has no ego and is supportive of my ambitions. When the world starts to revolve around me on tour, he brings me back to earth.

Jessie Ware is headlining Summer Camp Festival as part of Always Live, Melbourne, December 2, and Sydney, December 3.

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