Craig David has revealed that he has been celibate for "maybe a year or so" in a bid to find true love.
The 42-year-old burst on to the scene in 1999 on Artful Dodger hit Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta). He became a huge sex symbol thanks to his chart-topping hits Fill Me In and 7 Days - songs which opened up about his sex life.
Craig admitted that his lothario days during the height of his career in his 20s and 30s, where he had repeated one-night stands, led to "many different traumas".
As a result, he has abstained from sex as he turns to his attention on starting a relationship after years of being single.
Speaking on The Louis Theroux Podcast, the singer turned DJ believes the celibacy will put him in the right mindset for his next romance, whenever that may be.
He said: "Sometimes you gotta pull it back, man. I’m 42 years old now — things are different.
"If we can’t deep dive, if I can’t have a conversation and at the same time laugh like crazy with you, and see the beauty from within you, then we’re just gonna be doing the same game that I’ve been playing since day one. I don’t want that anymore."
Craig admitted that he had a number of flings because he was scared of getting hurt if he committed to a long term relationship.
This is because of the heartache from a two-week whirlwind romance when he was 16, which he said "closed down" his heart.
He added: "I had never felt anything like that before. My heart kind of closed down."
In March, Craig opened up about feeling bullied by Bo' Selecta and how the controversial show affected him.
The name of the 2000s sketch series - fronted by comedian Leigh Francis - was based on the title of the Artful Dodger and Craig David song Re-Rewind (The Crowd Say Bo Selecta).
Bo' Selecta was the subject of controversy for years and Craig previously said the series was "hurtful beyond belief".
Speaking about Bo' Selecta, Craig said: "I'm quite grateful it didn't translate overseas. It was very UK-based but because the UK was home for me, it hit home.
"It was unfortunate it became so popular but it is what it is."
Leigh, who uses the stage name Keith Lemon, had previously apologised after he was branded a "bully" and a "racist" by the singer.
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