FOR many pop stars London is the place to be, but for Nathan Sykes from The Wanted, home is where the heart is.
The 19-year-old, who grew up in Gloucester, has bought a new house in the city after wanting to escape the hectic city life of London.
And the former student of Ribston Hall said home comforts – including his mum's cooking and offers of doing his washing – had drawn him back to Gloucester.
Speaking to The Citizen while his band promotes new single I Found You, Nathan said he wasn't spending as much time in Gloucestershire as he wanted to, but was happy to be based around his family and friends again.
He said: "It is just so chilled out in Gloucester and being back home with my friends and family really does keep me sane.
"I'm not spending as many days there as I would like as I've been touring around America, but it is so good to be back – there is no place like home.
"Just catching up with friends and family and being based somewhere chilled just makes it so good.
"I get to taste mum's cooking and I still get offers to do my washing, so Gloucester is a great place to be."
The former pupil of Longlevens Junior School said his new home would be where he would be spending Christmas and New Year, as he has three weeks off to look forward to.
He said: "Gloucester is a really great place and there has been a lot of new shops and buildings come up in the past two years.
"It has got something for everyone and really seems to be on the up."
Life has change dramatically for Nathan in the past three years.
He auditioned to be in the boy band while studying for his AS-levels.
A year later he had a number one debut single All Time Low.
He said: "Sometimes it is strange being at home because you feel so normal and then you leave the house and girls are chasing you around and screaming."
And there's good news for those screaming girls as Nathan confirmed there's no girlfriend on the scene at the moment.
The new single is released on November 4 and The Wanted's new album will hit the shelves in March 2013.
