Singer Russell Watson has new brain tumour

LONDON, Oct 25 (Reuters) Singer Russell Watson is to have emergency surgery today to remove a new and aggressive brain tumour, his manager said.

The 40-year-old tenor, known as The Voice, was admitted to the intensive care unit at the Alexandra Hospital in Cheshire after a scan found the tumour.

The father of two young daughters had a brain tumour removed a year ago at St George's Hospital in London.

''He will be having emergency surgery to remove a new tumour that has only made itself known in the last 48 hours,'' his manager Richard Thompson said. ''This is a new tumour and a far more aggressive tumour than the one before.'' The extent of the new growth was uncovered by an MRI scan yesterday night, he added. Watson fell ill as he finished making a new album.

The former factory worker from Salford has sold some five million albums worldwide since his first big break singing to the crowds before a football match in 1999.

In May, he sang the national anthem before the FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley.

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