RUSSELL WATSON - TENOR IN CRITICAL CONDITION

TENOR IN CRITICAL CONDITION

Singer Russell Watson is critically ill in hospital, after being admitted for a brain tumour.

The 40-year-old was scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the tumour at 0730 BST this morning at the Alexandra private hospital in Cheshire.

A spokesman for the hospital confirmed the singer's admission, saying: "Russell Watson is at the Alexandra Hospital. He came in yesterday afternoon. No other information can be given at this time."

Watson had been recording for his new album Outside In - due out on November 26th - when he was taken ill.

The Salford-born tenor, a former factory worker, shot to fame after being invited by Martin Edwards, then chairman of Manchester United, to sing Nessun Dorma at Old Trafford ahead of the team's final match of the 1998/99 season.

He has sold more than four million albums worldwide, but was forced to cancel TV appearances and a UK tour in September last year, after undergoing surgery to remove a benign brain tumour - known as a pituitary adenoma - at St George's Hospital in south London.

Watson's agent, Richard Thompson, told the BBC the tumour is "major".

"Our thoughts are with Russell and his family," he added.