Paloma Faith lied about her age to get a record deal.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror newspaper, she said: "When I was asked what my age was in that first meeting, I blurted out 23, when I was actually 27.

"I didn't plan on doing it beforehand and it wasn't a calculated thing. It was only afterwards I realised why I said it ... I felt that everyone was going to focus on my age, not my music ... I think if I'd said I was 27, I wouldn't have got signed. One hundred per cent."

She added: "Of course now everyone is like, 'Oh we didn't mind' but I think if I'd come out and been honest in the first place, they'd have been like, 'Oh, she's a bit old and she's making all these mistakes.' She added: "I don't regret it and think I did it for the right reasons. I think we live in this era where men in particular are afraid of baby-making age and until you've established yourself, you're not forgiven for it."

The 33-year-old beauty also jumped to Madonna's defence and hit out at people who criticise the 56-year-old singer's revealing outfits and sexy dance moves.

She explained: "People talk about Madonna, saying she should stop wearing all that stuff, she's too old for that kind of thing now. But why? She's been doing it all along. She's entitled to wear that but at the same time, it was important for her to do that, back in the day."