Bags of talent and still able to hold a normal conversation with fans – welcome back, Adele!

Adele’s return is sort of cosy and familiar, like an old friend coming home from a long trip abroad, writes Katy Brand

Adele is back with her lilting melodies and unparalleled way with a power ballad (PA)

Oh, it feels good to have Adele back, doesn’t it? Sort of cosy and familiar, like an old friend coming home from a long trip abroad. She has returned to the public eye with her new album, 30, and when asked what it was about she volleyed back with customary candour, “Divorce, babe.”

Because since we last heard from her, she has been through a split with her husband with whom she shares a nine-year-old son, and if you can rely on Adele for anything it’s to speak to her pain, grief and experience through lilting melodies and an unparalleled way with a power ballad.

But the singing voice isn’t the only thing I’ve missed. It’s the speaking voice, too. In 2008, as part of my ITV sketch show I performed a parody of Adele in which I attempted to switch back and forth between her trademark buttery vocals, and her slightly more Saturday morning market stall holder way of talking – no nonsense, straight to the point. It was a joy to film, and later that joy was further compounded when I was told that Adele had seen it herself and found it funny. I later saw footage of her talking about it, taking it all in good humour. I could not love her more – all this musical talent, and a sense of humour too? What a woman.

And so it’s been comforting somehow to see her back on the PR trail. Since she’s been gone, the world of Instagram and other social media platforms has got so slick, so smooth, so polished that you almost forget what normal people sound like – even normal celebrities. You can watch clips of Gwyneth Paltrow talking silkily about making a candle that smells like her own vagina, and it’s so professionally done that you almost forget to remind yourself that it’s insane. But now here comes Adele, taking questions from fans online, make-up free and leaning a little too close to the camera, the mildest suggestion of a burgeoning spot on her timelessly beautiful face, telling her dogs to “shut up”, and generally reminding everyone that you can have bags and bags of talent, a once in a generation voice, and still be able to hold a conversation like one of your oldest mates down the pub.

Welcome back, Adele. I’ve missed you.