Tom Fletcher felt ready for parenthood before his son Buzz was born.

The McBusted singer has been battling depression for the last five years, but says he felt able to cope with the challenge of being a dad before his wife Giovanna Falcone gave birth to their son 20 months ago.

He said: ''You don't have any choice but to cope with life because you're doing it for someone else. I was very ready for that before Buzz was born.''

What's more, Tom claimed that becoming a father has also heaped him to tackle his depression.

He explained to the Daily Mirror newspaper: ''I was taking medication, but I don't any more. Having a kid has really helped me in my life. It gives you a sense of needing to be stable. It's not about you any more, it's about this child that you've decided to bring into the world.''

By contrast, Tom has previously admitted to contemplating suicide.

He said two years ago: ''There have been a few moments when I have thought, I don't think that I can do this any more.

''But you always see sense just at the right time, or just when you think you've had enough, something happens and there's some sort of light at the end of the tunnel.''