The singer-songwriter on the early days of Wham!, his ‘Count Dracula’ grandfather, and an ice-cream disaster

Born in Surrey, Andrew Ridgeley, 61, formed Wham! with his school friend George Michael. From 1982, the band dominated the charts with hits such as Club Tropicana, Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Freedom and I’m Your Man. This year is the 40th anniversary of the release of their single Last Christmas, which has become festive classic; a commemorative EP is out now. Ridgeley lives in Cornwall.

When were you happiest?
When George, Shirlie [the Wham! backing singer, whom Ridgeley dated] and I were knocking about as teenagers.