Ella Henderson talks marriage proposals, Adele and Bond theme ambitions

Chart topper Ella Henderson says she has been flooded with marriage proposals since unleashing her debut single earlier this year.

The 18-year-old former X Factor star says she is a little alarmed by her infatuated fans who demand her hand in marriage online.

‘It freaks me out when people I’ve never met are like, “marry me! Please!” I think the scary thing is I think they aren’t even sixteen yet,’ the singer laughed.

However Henderson is she’s already taken – having been dating fellow Grimsby local, Matt Harvey, since January this year.

‘I don’t tend to discuss too much about him. He’s so private and I respect him for that and that’s the way he wants it,’ she says of her own happy romance – although she admits she has to leave him behind when work takes her around the world.

‘He’s got a job! So he has to work,’ she sighs before changing topic to wishing she could meet fellow singer Adele who championed her when she competed on The X Factor back in 2012.

‘I would love to sing with her at some point. It would be really dark. Not gloomy, but imagine Rolling in the Deep mixed with Ghost! It would be really cool,’ she gushed.

Another ambition for Henderson is to mirror Skyfall singer Adele by penning her own 007 tune.

‘It is definitely on my bucket list to perform and write a song for a Bond theme one day,’ she reveals, but confessed she couldn’t imaging going one step further to become a Bond girl.

‘They always die! And it’s really upsetting. Whenever you engage with one and think “I really like that one!” she’s dead going down in a lift under water,’ she laughs.

Emeli Sandé eyes Bond score, Olympic gold and fears X-rated Jaguar collaboration

Emeli Sandé says she doesn’t understand why people compare her to Adele and says she would rather score and entire Bond film than just sing its theme song.

The 27-year-old Scottish songstress may have emulated the Someone Like You singer in penning the biggest selling record of the year, but Sandé thinks their material is worlds apart.

‘I guess it’s because we are both quite soulful, we’re both British, we’re both girls… It’s lovely and I am a fan of hers, but I think there are other people that both of us can be compared to,’ she said.

Admitting she would love to win Grammy awards like her chart rival, the Clown singer says also fancies getting her teeth into a 007 soundtrack.

‘I’d love to do film scores. Bond would be cool, but I love classical music, so composing would be a big dream,’ she said.

‘I think visuals and music go together beautifully. I’d love to write a musical as well. I have ideas every day about musicals,’ she teased.

Despite being one of the biggest recording artists in the UK, Sandé says the industry she works in is too male dominated.

‘The music world is 100% male dominated,’ she warns.

‘I think when women start writing that’s where the real control is as you are giving a message out to people. But it’s a business and a lot of women just want to stay creative – which I respect. But I think it’s harder to get control if you are a woman.’

Meanwhile Sandé fears her next music offering could turn X-rated as she has been asked to write an exclusive track to promote the launch of the new Jaguar XE Sports Saloon.

The Next To Me hitmaker is asking fans to send inspiration for lyrics via social media using a unique hashtag to influence her FEEL XE Exhilaration track.

‘I’m asking fans for things that sound exhilarating and things that get their hearts going. I am going to sit and watch them all and see what song comes out,’ she explained.

But on realising her description could inspire some saucy suggestions, she laughed: ‘Maybe I will get more X-rated tweets and it could get really RnB.’

Away from her own music, the singer revealed she has also been working with Rihanna and Mary J Blige to help them create their own new records.

‘Mary has been with me this past week. Sitting next to a legend and listening to her sing your words is a real buzz,’ she gushed.

The petite star also revealed she has developed an ambition to compete in the next Olympic Games having performed at the 2012 London closing ceremony.

‘I just got a trampoline. I’m trying to learn some tricks although I’m a bit scared. Next Olympics I could be a trampoline gold medallist,’ she laughed.

And while it seems to have been all work, work, work (and trampolining) for the chart topper, Sandé says she knows how to party.

Spotted at Tinie Tempah’s 25th birthday party in London last November, the Scot was appeared to enjoy herself as bottle after bottle of sparkler adorned champagne arrived at her roped off table.

‘I guess because I spend so much time in the studio that when I go out I like to go for it. I have a wild side. I do,’ she giggled.

[Elements of this article appeared in Metro, Guilty Pleasures, Tuesday 29 July 2014]