Among his musical selections is Amy Winehouse, another star struggling with drink and drugs. "This is the best female vocalist I’ve heard in my entire career and one of the best writers," he says. "So all I can say is ’Please, please understand how brilliant you are’, and I wish her every success in the future. She’s a fantastic talent and we should support her."


George: Amy is a fantastic talent - Sept 28 2007
George Michael has sent out a message of support to troubled singer Amy Winehouse.

The star told Kirsty Young on Desert Island Discs: "This is the best female vocalist I’ve heard in my entire career and one of the best writers, so all I can say is, ’Please, please understand how brilliant you are’, and I wish her every success in the future.

"She’s a fantastic talent and we should support her."

The singer, who recently began touring again, added: "It’s been a very bizarre year because you can’t imagine what it’s like playing to people who have been loyal to you for 25 years and haven’t seen you for 15, that’s been the most life-affirming thing I could have done. I’m so glad I did it.

"It’s not the adulation that’s been nice, it’s the absolute warmth, it’s the complete generosity.

"I genuinely believe the purpose of what I do is a positive one."

The singer said his fans did not care about his personal life.

"What’s wonderful is that a lot of them who think they are true, really don’t care, so I’m such a lucky man," he said.

George Michael’s interview on Desert Island Discs is broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday at 11.15am and again on Friday at 9.02am.



Michael’s HIV fears cut from documentary - Sept 20 2007
George Michael has asked the BBC not to broadcast an interview in which he discusses his HIV fears.

The pop star spoke openly with Stephen Fry for a forthcoming documentary.

He is said to have admitted that he has not taken a test for at least three years because he fears it might be positive.

His former partner, Anselmo Feleppa, died of an Aids-related illness in 1995.

But the interview has now been removed from the programme at the star’s request.

A spokesman for the singer said: "On reflection, he felt it was too close and too personal a journey, and he asked for his contribution to be removed.

"It was too personal for Anselmo’s family to revisit."

The BBC confirmed that the interview would not feature in the programme, Stephen Fry: HIV And Me.

When the BBC Two documentary was launched in June, BBC bosses revealed details of the former Wham! star’s conversation with Fry.

Producer Ross Wilson said: "George says he does not believe in tests. He says he finds the wait for results too harrowing and that he hasn’t had a test since at least 2004 due to his fears it might be positive."

In the two-part programme, Fry takes an HIV test himself and examines how the disease is spreading.


George auctions suit for HIV charity - July 31 2007
A striking Armani suit worn on tour by George Michael is to be auctioned on eBay to raise money for charity.

The profits from the silver outfit, which he has worn on his 25 Live European Tour, will be donated to the Terrence Higgins Trust, a charity providing services for people living with, and affected by, HIV and Aids.