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| Ex-Wham! singer George Michael dies | Ex-Wham! singer George Michael dies |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Singer George Michael has died aged 53, his publicist has said. | Singer George Michael has died aged 53, his publicist has said. |
| The star, who launched his career with Wham! in the 1980s and later continued his success as a solo performer, is said to have "passed away peacefully at home". | The star, who launched his career with Wham! in the 1980s and later continued his success as a solo performer, is said to have "passed away peacefully at home". |
| Thames Valley Police said South Central Ambulance Service attended a property in Goring in Oxfordshire at 13:42 GMT. | Thames Valley Police said South Central Ambulance Service attended a property in Goring in Oxfordshire at 13:42 GMT. |
| Police say they were treating the death as unexplained but there were no suspicious circumstances. | |
| In a statement, the star's publicist said: "It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period. | In a statement, the star's publicist said: "It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period. |
| "The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage." | "The family would ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult and emotional time. There will be no further comment at this stage." |
| Treatment for pneumonia | |
| Michael, who was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in north London, sold more than 100m albums throughout a career spanning almost four decades. | |
| He first found fame with his schoolfriend Andrew Ridgeley in duo Wham! before going on to release solo albums, including the multi-million selling Faith and follow-up Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. | |
| Obituary: George Michael | |
| George Michael: A life in pictures | |
| It outsold Faith in the UK but led to Michael losing a court case with record label Sony over his frustration over how the album has been marketed. | |
| He scored seven number one singles in the UK with songs including Careless Whisper and Faith, and won three Brit Awards and two Grammys. | |
| But as his career faded, Michael faced headlines for the wrong reasons. | |
| In October 2006 he pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drugs and was banned from driving and in 2008 he was cautioned for possession of class A drugs, including crack cocaine. | |
| In September 2010 Michael received an eight-week prison sentence following an incident the previous July in which he crashed his Range Rover into a shop in north London. | |
| Earlier this month it was announced that producer and songwriter Naughty Boy was working with Michael on a new album. | |
| A documentary film entitled Freedom was also due for release next March. | |
| In 2011, Michael postponed a series of concerts after being taken to hospital for treatment for pneumonia. | In 2011, Michael postponed a series of concerts after being taken to hospital for treatment for pneumonia. |
| After treatment in a Vienna hospital, he made a tearful appearance outside his London home and said it had been "touch and go" whether he lived. | After treatment in a Vienna hospital, he made a tearful appearance outside his London home and said it had been "touch and go" whether he lived. |
| Doctors were said to have performed a tracheotomy to keep his airways open and he was unconscious for some of his spell in hospital. | Doctors were said to have performed a tracheotomy to keep his airways open and he was unconscious for some of his spell in hospital. |
| After years of refusing to be drawn on speculation about his sexuality, Michael disclosed he was gay in 1998 after being was arrested in a public toilet in Beverly Hills, California, for engaging in a lewd act. | |
| What are your memories of George Michael? Did you meet him? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | What are your memories of George Michael? Did you meet him? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |