Although Peter Andre’s appointment as Valletta Cultural Ambassador was not welcomed, the controversial star tells Jo Caruana he relished the time spent in Malta.

Singer and reality show celebrity Peter Andre, who is also seen performing at this year’s Malta Music Awards on February 3 (top).

The backlash created by celebrity Peter Andre’s recent appointment as Valletta Cultural Ambassador shows no sign of abating.

With a damning majority outrightly condemning the appointment and an online petition for his removal that keeps gathering momentum, this was one appointment that left many wondering how the definition of what constitutes culture could have become so elastic.

And yet, away from the cultural arena, Andre has enjoyed his fair share of the celebrity limelight. Let’s get this out in the open: I had a Peter Andre poster on my wall. Of course I did. And he was topless too. Flexing.

After all, I was a teen in the early noughties and Peter Andre kind of came with the territory back then – just like so many other good-looking young stars before and after him.

Through the release of albums (some of them more popular than others), his high profile marriage to glamour model Katie Price (aka Jordan), a gaggle of reality shows, numerous presenting jobs and the development of his business portfolio, he has retained a spot in the limelight.

So much so that I find myself meeting up with him, just one day after he’s been given the Best International Artist Award at the Malta Music Awards. Isn’t it funny how things turn out?

And it’s that exact thought that’s running through my head as Andre strides towards me with his hand extended, ready for our interview. Ever the celeb, he is flanked by a TV crew (which follows him around from dawn till dusk, charting the ups and downs of his busy life for British channel ITV’s reality show Peter Andre: My Life) and an entourage of people that includes international promoter Rocco Buonvino, who can be credited with bringing a variety of celebrities to Malta over the years.

My chat with Andre obviously took place ahead of the afore-mentioned backlash. I have to be honest – on the day we met, Andre seemed genuinely thrilled to have received the award, and determined to do his bit to promote Malta.

I don’t know if Joseph Calleja would be interested, but I would love to do a one-off song with him

“If I had to say one thing to the Maltese people, it would be thank you,” Andre gushes, sipping on a glass of sparkling water and gesturing towards the two awards that sit on the table in front of us.

“While I had never been here before, I already knew a lot about Malta because we had Maltese friends in Australia, where I grew up. A close friend, Jeff Fenech, a champion boxer, regularly encouraged me to visit as he knew I would love it. Finally getting here felt brilliant, and I actually got a bit emotional about it at one point. Going that one step further and receiving both of these awards has felt truly incredible.”

During his time here, Andre, who was accompanied by new girlfriend Emily MacDonagh, visited spots including the Grand Master’s Palace and Upper Barrakka Gardens. He also performed at the Malta Music Awards and attended the Malta Song for Europe Contest.

“I used to be a big fan of the Eurovision,” he says with a smile. “But when Britain stopped doing so well, everyone kind of lost interest in it over there and I did too. Watching the selection process here completely blew me away; Malta may have a tiny population but it sure has some fantastic singers. I met Kurt Calleja, last year’s winner, who was lovely, and I was very impressed by this year’s winner too. The performers all seemed so humble – some are doctors, teachers, students – yet they’re all so talented too. There were at least five or six numbers that I thought had the potential to do well internationally.”

Andre has already said he would like to return to Malta, both for a longer holiday with MacDonagh, and to perform.

“I’ve already discussed it with one of the judges on the Malta Song panel and have asked him to look into dates and times that would work out. I hope to find a nice little villa I can escape to, and to learn lots more about the country.

“I’ve also heard wonderful things about local tenor Joseph Calleja. I don’t know if he would be interested, but I would love to do a one-off song with him – perhaps combining Maltese and English, as I love languages. It could turn into a very interesting project.”

Meanwhile, Andre explains that he is also very busy back home, with a variety of projects on the go.

“I’m very thankful for the success I’ve had,” he says. “Although I was raised in Australia, the UK has been so good to me – from music to TV and, more recently the launch of my businesses – my fragrances for men and women, and the coffee shops I’ve opened. I really feel very honoured to have this life.”

As I raise an eyebrow towards the camera crew that is still watching on, wondering how challenging it must be to be followed constantly, Andre maintains that it has become a way of life for him.

“This is my fifth solo series, and my 10th in total. I love it because it’s not a Big Brother situation where everything is rigged up; these guys are my friends and I’ve gotten to know them well over a period of time. Nothing is set up, they’re simply filming my reality and my family’s life. I don’t feel as though it impinges on anything day to day.”

His reality show also charts his role as hands-on dad to Junior Savva and Princess Tiaamii, the children he shares with ex-wife Jordan. “I definitely put my children first,” he says. “Both my parents passed on very strong ethics to me – including to respect my elders and to work as hard as possible – and I hope to, in turn, pass that message on to my little ones.

“My children have encouraged me to work on a variety of charitable projects too. Close to my heart is the Health Improvement Project Zanzibar (HIPS) in Zanzibar. Seeing the appalling healthcare standards there has taught me that it’s one thing to want to make a difference, but it’s another to actually do something tangible to help.

“For this reason I am doing a bike ride in Zanzibar with my friend Carl Minchin to raise funds – neither of us has ever ridden a bike for more than half an hour, so it should be interesting!”

As we detangle ourselves from the ITV microphones and his entourage reappears, he returns to praising our country and its people. “I wish more people could see what a great place Malta is. I will do my best to ensure that happens.”

And you know what? I am inclined to believe him.

To support Andre’s bike ride in Zanzibar and the HIPS charity, go to www.justgiving.com/theandrebrothers.