‘It was all a cover-up,’ agrees Numan.
After his shock retirement, he became a stunt pilot, flew around the world, then spent decades trying to scramble back up the charts, blowing his money on tours with extravagant stage sets and lighting shows. ‘It was madness,’ sighs Numan.
The photo shoot finished, we sit in the garden, their four dogs – including a mastiff and a St Bernard – bounding round our legs. They also have seven cats and a tortoise. The two older daughters make themselves scarce, and Echo occasionally appears, showing her father a video of herself playing the piano. ‘That’s brilliant,’ enthuses Numan, putting his arm around her. Later Gemma brings out chips, baked beans and mushy peas. ‘I just eat s—t,’ explains Numan. ‘I don’t eat any greens whatsoever. Virtually no fruit. I don’t drink water.’