The classical singer on scrimping and saving for his first guitar, being diagnosed with two brain tumours and getting back to music

Born in Salford in 1966, Russell Watson is the UK’s bestselling classical crossover artist. The tenor started on the north-west’s working men’s club circuit, before getting a record deal and releasing The Voice, an album that held the No 1 spot for 52 weeks. He has had seven Top 10 albums, more than 7m album sales, and has performed for Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles and the late Pope John Paul II. He is celebrating 25 years of The Voice with a UK tour.

I was 15 when this photo was taken. My childhood bedroom was the size of a postage stamp, but I still filled it with posters – Marilyn Monroe, Madonna and Paul Weller. I was obsessed with music, but even more with football. I wasn’t particularly interested in girls; my life revolved around hanging out with my pals.