Amy Winehouse's tough childhood

Mar 13, 2008, 11:35 GMT

British soul singer Amy Winehouse EPA/STEFFEN SCHMIDT

Amy Winehouse's father believes his extra-marital affair ruined her childhood.

Mitch Winehouse admits he made his daughter's early life difficult by cheating on her mother Janis for eight years, before leaving the family home to live with his mistress Jane in 1993.

He said: "The affair was in the open and the children used to call Jane 'Daddy's work wife'. I did not leave home until Amy was ten so the situation occurred for eight or nine years before I left home. It was difficult.

"I didn't realise what effect my behavior had on her until I heard her song 'What Is It About Men', with the line 'All the s**t my mother went through', which obviously referred to me."

However, Mitch - who married Jane in 1996 - insists he is not to blame for his daughter's current battle with drink and drugs, and even thinks his affair inspired her talent.

He revealed to BBC TV show 'One Life: Rock Star Parents': "She couldn't articulate what was wrong in words but she certainly did with her music.

"What she is going through at the moment is terrible. She could die horribly, but that cannot happen.

"I think she would have found her way here one way or another without any help from me though.

"It is easy for me to say it is my fault, and that had I been a better parent this would not have happened. But who knows whether it would or not?"

Amy, 24, entered a London rehab clinic in January after footage of her smoking what appeared to be crack cocaine was released. She left just two weeks later to perform for the Grammys via a live satellite link-up.

The programme airs in the UK next Tuesday (18.03.08).

(C) BANG Media International