Jamie Cullum is amazed how much the height difference between himself and Sophie Dahl is talked about.

Sophie Dahl and Jamie Cullum

Sophie Dahl and Jamie Cullum

The 40-year-old singer has named his new album 'Taller' as a nod to both the remarks he and his wife - who, at 6ft is eight inches taller than the jazz star - have been subjected to over the years, and how much he's had to "grow" as her husband.

He explained to talk show host Jonathan Ross: "I managed to completely break one of the laws of the universe by marrying a taller woman and it was quite interesting how much that was talked about.

"I thought it's a really great opportunity to write a song about that when really, we've been married for 10 years now and together for 13 years and I feel like I have grown into myself so much as a person loving this woman and she is very emotionally intelligent you see, so I had to grow to meet her. It's a metaphor really."

The 'Work of Art' singer - who has two daughters with Sophie - admitted the Christmas gifts he receives every year are quite predictable, but if they stop coming, he misses their familiarity.

He said: "I always get anything jazz related or piano-related clothing. I have a lot of piano ties.

"My dear departed nan got me Jazz aftershave every year, which I hated the smell of. I had eight or nine, she thought I used it up every year. Now I quite miss it."

The full interview with Jamie airs on 'The Jonathan Ross Show' on Christmas Eve (24.12.19) on ITV.