Gwen Stefani exclusive: 'My kids keep me grounded and I love X Factor'

The No Doubt singer was impressed by Little Mix last time she visited the UK

Leather lass: Gwen Stefani hits the town

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There's No Doubt Gwen Stefani home life stops her getting too big for her stilettos.

The band is back after an 11-year hiatus with a stonking new album, Push and Shove... but that doesnt impress the iconic red-lipped frontladys son Kingston, six.

Ive been a fan of No Doubt since ye olde days so was chuffed when Gwen, 42, pictured below on a night out this week, where she was joined by stepdaughter Daisy Lowe, 23, joined me for an exclusive chat.

Relaxing on a couch in a posh London hotel with bandmate Tony Kanal, Gwen said: I came home with a CD and gave it to Kingston and he was like, Oh my gosh and was looking at it.

On the way to school he wanted to listen to it but then was mad he hadnt watched TV instead. When he got to school he was like, I made a mistake, I should have watched TV. I made the wrong choice. That definitely keeps me grounded!

I think its really weird for my kids to see me in the band because when we went on the tour three years ago, they were too little to take it in. Now I think its weird.

Four-year-old Zuma did soundcheck with us on Ellen DeGeneres and he had his guitar. He wants to be in the band thats the problem. I just want them to be happy and stay out of jail. That would be my dream.

Kingstons opinions aside, its the bands best album but Gwen starts welling up discussing its torturous writing sessions and admits it nearly didnt see the light of day.

She said: I was worried the whole time because I was like, How am I going to do this? I cant do this.

I think there were lots of times we felt it was! never going to happen. Tony now admits he was worried it wasnt going to happen. It was a really challenging record to make.

Both him and (guitarist) Tom Dumont were so supportive and were like, If you need to leave now to get back to the kids, go. I needed that at this time in my life. I couldnt work with people who had all these expectations of me.

I needed love and support and thats what they gave me. The thing that made this record great was the struggle of having to do it differently and having time restraints.

You have to come in after being up all night with the baby, exhausted all day long with kids and then sitting on a couch with your best friends trying to write a song in five hours.

Gwen admits that on her last trip here she got addicted to The X Factor and girlband Little Mix.

I like those shows. A lot of people I know dont because they are like Oh, its a talent show, but they make it really engaging. Id never watched any of those shows but when I was here last year, we started watchingX Factor.

Little Mix had a cool rap and it was engaging and fun.

Up close Gwen looks a natural 20 years younger than her age and theres no hint of a nip or tuck. But as she prepares to turn 43 this week she admits she has to work at it.

My abs are a little squidgy. Theyre not what you think they are. I keep them in shape by working out.

We try and eat good and look after ourselves as we have to do that stuff for our live shows. Its part of who we are and its not that hard.

I think theres a pressure to look good in life generally. I think we all have those pressures.

Ive always liked make-up and dressed up. Even if I didnt have someone waiting to judge me I would still do it.

Its part of who I am and I love that part of life. I love clothes and I love Barbies and I love playing dolls and I was always that girl.

Its not that different but I just get to do it more. People get married and thats their one big night with the dress and the! make-up.! I get to do it every day. Its a dream and just so much fun.