BB FANS

LOUISE Griffiths can't wait to get on the starting grid for a family of five children after her marriage to hunky racing driver Jenson Button this year.

The singer-songwriter, who has been dating the Formula 1 heart-throb for more than four years. is currently excitedly planning the marriage.

But Louise, 26, a former contestant on TV's Fame Academy, is also keen to become a mum soon.

"I want loads of kids," she says. "We have spoken about it a lot and we have slightly different views.

"I want to have three children naturally but I would also like to adopt two as well.

"At the moment, Jenson would just be happy with the three. But I think it would be so great to give an orphan a chance - a future in a happy, loving family. I really do want to adopt."

Asked about their sex life, Louise blushes and laughs: "The sex is great."

The sportsman proposed to her at the swish Sandy Lane Hotel in Barbados in October 2003.

Louise denies reports that the wedding will take place at swish celeb-haunt Babington House in Somerset.

"No, we're not marrying at Babington - but we are getting married this year in England. I'm not saying exactly where."

She says they will invite about 120 guests.

Despite Jenson's &L&20million fortune, Louise has vowed to remain very much her own woman - even after they have tied the knot.

"It's really important for me to keep my independence. I think it's one of the things Jenson first really liked about me.

"And that's not going to change - even when we marry."

Despite her impending marriage, Louise remains committed to her career. She rose to nationwide fame when she appeared on Fame Academy.

Eighteen months later, she has not signed a record deal. But she is close to completing her album which she has financed herself. "I've paid for it. I've called in a lot of favours as well from friends who are musicians.

"I've been doing the music for eight years and it's really important to me. It's also why I don't go to that many F1 races."

Most of the album is made up of songs she has written herself - she even had the confidence to snub Robbie Williams.

The pop superstar offered Louise a song, Love Is Where I'm From, that he had originally written for ex-fiancee Nicole Appleton.

"It's a great song and I was really grateful to Robbie," she says. "But it just didn't suit my voice.

Louise remembers how she first met Jenson, 24, when she went with friends to the premiere of Scary Movie in 2000.

The pair exchanged numbers but afterwards Louise had second thoughts about the handsome driver.

She says: "When I got home, I thought about it. I knew what a bad reputation motor racing drivers had for being lotharios so I decided that I wouldn't go out with him.

"When he called, I told him that but he wouldn't give in. He just kept ringing day after day. The more we talked, the more it was obvious we just clicked. We really got on.

"Eventually, I agreed to go on a date with him."

For their first date, Jenson took Louise to a series of top designer stores. "He kept offering to buy me things - but I just stood there. In the end, I chose some clothes for him.

"I didn't want anything I couldn't buy with my own money. And that hasn't changed.

"Jenson's a normal guy. But if I'm not earning the money I don't want it. I am very proud. I'm a struggling musician. I have never had much money - and I still haven't.

"Of course, Jenson buys me presents but I won't let him just get me anything. I'm a TopShop girl. That's what I can afford so that's where I go."

Louise is planning the wedding along with her parents, London black cab driver Bob and mum Carol. She continues to live at home with them in Standon, Hertfordshire.

She says: "Jenson doesn't really have a base in England. He's never here. He basically lives in Monaco - but my life and my career are based in London.

"No offence to Monaco but it's not really a hotbed for the music business."

Next week will see Louise concentrate on Jenson and his career. On Sunday, it's the first Grand Prix of the season in Melbourne - and Louise cannot wait.

"The Australian GP is one of the best. The atmosphere is absolutely brilliant."

But she remains terrified whenever the lights change and the engines roar to signal the start of a GP.

"I still get very, very nervous at the beginning of the race. In fact, a lot of the time I can't watch.

"I know motor racing fans love the race for the first corner but I find it absolutely terrifying."

During practice for the Monaco Grand Prix in 2003, Jenson survived a 180mph crash.

"That was horrific," she says, wincing at the memory.

To try and put her mind at rest, Louise chooses to think of the improved safety record of Formula 1 in recent years.

"And Jenson is one of the smoothest drivers as well - unlike Pablo Montoya," she says.

Although Louise chooses not to go to every race, she has no worries about women throwing themselves at her fiance.

"I trust him and he has a good set of pals on the circuit who he is close to. David Coulthard, like Jenson, is such a down-to-earth guy. We get on brilliantly with him and his girlfriend."

Last year a newspaper reported that Jenson had '"zoomed away from his girlfriend when he partied the night away with six naked girls".

But Louise is not bothered.

"What the paper failed to say was that it was a friend's stag night and there were about 30 of Jenson's friends there."

The couple enjoyed four weeks together over Christmas and New Year. On Boxing Day, they hired a box at Highbury to watch Louise's beloved Arsenal. "Jenson's a fan now, as well."

And then they spent 10 days skiing in Whistler, Canada.

Now Jenson will spend the next seven-and-a-half months jetting round the world - with Louise visiting him in exotic locations as much as she can.

Louise will also be focussing on her own career. She says: "Jenson loves the music. There is one song in particular which is just my voice, a guitar and a string quartet. He plays it at home, in the car - everywhere."

Despite Jenson's huge wealth, Louise is determined to carve out a successful singing career in her own right.

"My mum's always been a bit of a feminist and always taught me to stand on my own two feet," she says.

"And just because I'm with Jenson that hasn't changed."

Looking back, Louise actually regrets appearing on BBC1's talent show Fame Academy.

"I'm not sure if it was actually the best thing to do. I thought it would be a lot more about writing songs and then singing my own stuff.

"We were also told Jools Holland was going to be in charge of the Academy, which would have been brill iant. But I ended up having to perform all these ballads and learn dance routines. It was more like a fame school."

She adds: "My music's very adult-orientated pop rock. It's hard to say what it's like but I suppose it's similar to The Cardigans or Madonna when she was working with William Orbit. There's also a bit of folk music in there - and a bit of Dido."

So Louise is sexy, independent-minded, a talented musician - and she wants to be a caring mum as well.

No wonder Jenson is racing to get her down the aisle.