I had a really happy childhood. My dad worked 12-hour shifts in the Kodak factory – I remember creeping about when he was on nights – but he was also lead singer in a band playing in British Legion and working men’s clubs. My earliest memories are of being sat at the back of a pub, falling asleep on the bench while my dad played. He used to get me up on stage to sing with him from when I was only three or four. I get my music from my dad.

I wanted to play the guitar like him. Now my son, Buzz, is doing the same with me. He is only two but he’s obsessed with guitars, especially mine. He sits there with it upside down and sings McFly songs. It’s really sweet and he’s got amazing rhythm. I did a McFly tour recently and he came to a sound check. We gave him a ukulele so he could join in and he didn’t want to leave the stage. I can see now how it naturally passes from father to son.

My mum isn’t a performer but she is creative. She was a dinner lady at the school I was at until I was nine, when I went to stage school. She did various courses and ended up teaching children with learning difficulties and autism. She wrote poems and stories. I get my writing from my mum.

My nan loved musical theatre. She used to tell me how she performed at the pictures. Before the Saturday morning movie, she’d get up and do a song or a tap dance. She and my mum showed me all the old musical movies. By the time I went to stage school, I loved musical theatre.

My nan and grandad were really important. They took me to school every day. I couldn’t have gone to theatre school without them because my parents had to work – there wasn’t much money. Nan and Grandad took me on the train every day until I was about 15, when they reluctantly agreed I could go on my own. I sometimes caught Nan secretly following a few carriages back to make sure I was OK.

My younger sister [Carrie Hope Fletcher] was a massive influence on me. She is insanely talented and was very confident as a kid – much more than I was. We shared all the same interests. She played Jemima Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang when she was nine or 10 and has just finished touring as Truly Scrumptious. And she writes books. My parents taught us that if you are going to do something, give it your all. But we were never pushed into anything. They gave us everything and now I have children, I understand that that is what you do for your kids.

I met my wife [Giovanna Falcone] at school when I was 13. We’d been dating since before McFly, so she has been with me – keeping me on my toes – through the whole rollercoaster. The arrival of Buzz had a major impact on my mental health. Depression and anxiety runs in the family. Both my parents have had moments with it. For years, I couldn’t sleep. I can’t say it without laughing now, but whenever I got into bed my mind would go off on these crazy stories about aliens and I would terrify myself – even in my 20s. Then I saw Stephen Fry on TV talking about being bipolar and he was describing my life. I cried. And that week I went to get help.

I love being a dad. I’ve won awards for it twice now [Celebrity Dad of the Year awards in 2014 and 2016]. When the kids are naughty, I tell them they have to behave because I have an award for being a dad!

It was really tough for my dad, looking back. He didn’t want to work in a factory. He wanted to be in a band. I’m living my dad’s dream. I am so amazingly lucky to be able to do what I love and support my family doing it.

Tom Fletcher’s latest children’s book, The Christmasaurus, (for 7-12-year-olds) is published by Puffin.