RUSSELL WATSON - TENOR TO RETURN HOME

TENOR TO RETURN HOME

Singer Russell Watson is due to be discharged from hospital after undergoing surgery on a brain tumour last week.

The 40-year-old was operated on last Thursday morning at the Alexandra private hospital in Cheshire, but a statement from his management has confirmed he is now out of intensive care and "making good progress".

Watson had been recording for his new album Outside In - due out on November 26th - when he was taken ill last Wednesday, suffering a "dramatic deterioration of vision" as bleeding in his brain put pressure on his optic nerve.

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 2006 after undergoing surgery to remove a benign brain tumour - known as a pituitary adenoma - at St George's Hospital in south London.

And though he made a full recovering from that operation, he was admitted to hospital again last week.

But the management statement said yesterday: "He is now being scheduled for discharge around lunchtime tomorrow, but he will need to continue to rest for the foreseeable future so as to fully recover from his surgery.

"We would like to pass on Russell's heartfelt thanks for the overwhelming amount of messages and gifts from his fans.

"The tremendous support he is receiving really makes a difference and as soon as he is able he will send a personal message to you all."

Watson's manager, Richard Thompson, confirmed scar tissue from the previous operation meant surgery had to be carried out through his mouth this time.

"There was some concern because when he came out of theatre he was having trouble speaking, but he's speaking normally now," he said.

"It is a worry, but we don't know how much of a worry. When he had the operation a year ago we didn't want to go through the mouth for obvious reasons, but there was no option this time.

"He's got stitches in his mouth and they'll need to heal. But he will be singing again," Mr Thompson added.