Essex can't get used to growing older

David Essex forgets his birthdays because he cannot get used to the fact that he is growing older.

The singer, who is starring in a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Aspects of Love, said he was confused when cards were sent to him while he was preparing for the role.

The Bucks Free Press quotes him as saying: "Inside, I feel about 23. My 60th birthday fell on the day we started rehearsals for Aspects of Love.

"All these cards kept arriving and I couldn't understand it. 'Who are all these cards for?' I kept asking myself."

He added that he is trying to wind down his commitments as he gets older, saying: "I hate the idea of outstaying my welcome, of hanging on too long so that people get fed up with me."