Blunt admits he is a coward with women

James Blunt has admitted that his musical career has made him a coward when it comes to women.

The former army officer claims that he finds it much easier to describe his emotions in a musical ode than speaking in person to a woman he loves.

Speaking in a magazine interview, Blunt said: "In a way songwriting can almost be detrimental, because suddenly you find an outlet that is a kind of cheating. You don't need to have direct communication. You can say, 'I can't describe it to you but I will record it and send it to you."

The 'You're Beautiful' singer added: "As emotional upbringings go, being sent away to boarding school at seven is as great an inspiration as any songwriter could have - to be taken away from one's family and locked away for 10 years. It does create an incredible intensity of emotion."

Blunt has been romantically connected with model Petra Nemcova and Celebrity Fame Academy star Tara Palmer-Tomkinson in the past.