FILE: Singer Russell Watson is in critical condition after being operated on for brain tumour

Singer Russell Watson was in critical condition surgery on Thursday (October 25) after undergoing emergency surgery to remove a brain tumour, hospital officials said. The 40-year-old tenor, who has sold millions of records around the world, was admitted to the intensive care unit at the Alexandra Hospital in Cheshire after a scan found the tumour. A hospital spokesman said his condition remained critical. The singer's manager Richard Thompson said he was conscious, adding: 'We've got him back'. The father of two young daughters had a brain tumour removed a year ago at St George's Hospital in London. The extent of the new growth was uncovered by an MRI scan on Wednesday night (October 24), he added. Watson fell ill as he finished making a new album. A statement on Watson's Web site (www.russell-watson.com) said "All our hopes, prayers and wishes are with him." Fans sent dozens of messages of support. The former factory worker from Salford, who is known as The Voice, has sold some five million albums since his first big break singing to the crowd before a football match in 1999. His debut album "The Voice" was number one on the classical charts for a year and went on to win two Classical Brit awards. Watson has performed for Queen Elizabeth, President George W. Bush and the late Pope John Paul. He was the first British male artist to hold the number one spot in the classical charts on both sides of the Atlantic at the same time. His follow-up albums mixed classical music with cover versions of popular songs, such as "Strangers in the Night" and "When I Fall in Love". In May, he sang the national anthem before the FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley.

ITN Source | October 25, 2007

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