RUSSELL WATSON - WATSON U.K. TOUR TO CELEBRATE RECOVERY

British opera singer RUSSELL WATSON is set to embark on a UK tour to celebrate his full recovery from brain surgery last year (07). The 41-year-old tenor will play at 13 venues across the country this summer (08), just months after undergoing emergency surgery in October (07) after doctors discovered he had fallen victim to a second brain tumour. Watson - known as The Voice due to his powerful vocals - suffered his first brain tumour in 2006, when doctors operated on the classical music sensation through his nose. Due to the technique used in his first surgery, doctors were forced to operate on the star through his mouth this time around - sparking fears he would never be able to record or perform again. However, Watson's vocal chords were left unscathed by the punishing medical treatment and the star is looking forward to a full workload in 2008, hinting he may even release a new album. Watson writes on his official blog, "There are all kinds of other plans afoot that I don't think I can reveal yet. Album (cough)." The UK tour will kick off in Glasgow, Scotland on 9 June (08), before moving to London, Birmingham and Bristol as well as a homecoming gig in his native Manchester, England on 19 June.