RUSSELL WATSON - WATSON 'PROGRESSING WELL'

LATEST: British opera star RUSSELL WATSON is out of intensive care and "progressing well" after emergency brain surgery, hospital officials have said. The 40-year-old singer, who underwent a three-hour operation on Thursday (25Oct07), was moved out intensive care on Sunday (28Oct07). Michael Stroud of the Alexandra Hospital in Cheshire, U.K., said it is "too early to say" what the recovery period will involve. Watson fell ill during a recording session and an MRI scan showed a re-growth of a previous benign tumour, which was removed a year ago. The singer has been forced to cancel numerous engagements while he recovers including a performance before the American football match between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday (28Oct07). Several family members, including his daughters Hannah, eight, and Rebecca, 12, visited him over the weekend (27/28Oct07).