HEREFORDSHIRE born singer Ellie Goulding turned to alcohol to cope with fame, a BBC interview has revealed.

The 32-year-old singer told Happy Place presenter Fearne Cotton that she would drink before interviews and appearances as she believed it would help calm her nerves and make her funnier and more interesting.

Ellie, who grew up in Lyonshall, rose to fame in 2010, with her debut album 'Lights' reaching number one on the UK charts.

She has since had a string of hits, performing at venues around the world, including at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

But despite her success, Ellie said she felt she had to be a "fake person" to deal with life in the spotlight.

The singer, who has previously talked about her experiences with mental health issues including anxiety and panic attacks, denied being an alcoholic, saying she would go months without drinking.

She said she had undergone therapy to help her come to terms with anger issues.