Michael Ball was desperate for the blessing of his partner Cathy McGowan when writing his novel

Michael Ball says the only person he sought approval from when writing his debut novel was his beloved partner Cathy McGowan.

The 60-year-old singer has written a book about a young soldier who returns from war, reinvents himself and embarks on a career in vaudeville, set in the glamorous fictional Empire Theatre.

And the artist says he was relieved when former television host Cathy, 79, with whom he has collaborated since 1992, described his first version as a ‘page-turner’.

He told the Mirror: ‘She is the person whose approval I want above all others.

“I didn’t show her what I had written until the end… she looked at me a little surprised and said, ‘You can do this!’

“She called it a page turner, which is a compliment.”

Michael went on to say that his partner has been there every step of the way throughout his music career to support him.

An assignment to Cathy at the beginning of the novel reads: “To Cathy, for keeping the engine running!”

He explained that he tells Cathy to “run the engine” every time he takes the stage in case the couple needs to escape soon after his performance.

The couple met after interviewing him on her former pop music TV show Ready Steady Go! when he starred in the West End show Aspects of Love.

They moved in together three years later and have been together ever since.

And while some people comment about the age difference between the couple, Michael insists he doesn’t notice.

He said she taught him a lot about life and how to be and enjoy himself.

“She taught me so much and made me laugh like a jerk,” he said.

‘People sometimes ask about the age difference, but that’s not relevant. No one would tell if I was the oldest. Why does it make any difference?’