OPERA star Russell Watson is recovering after undergoing what appears to be a successful operation to remove a re-growth of a brain tumour.

The 40-year-old singer had surgery lasting around three hours at the private Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle, and was said to be conscious this evening.

In a brief statement issued by the hospital, executive director Michael Stroud said his condition remained critical.

He said however: “The surgery went very well. The tumour was benign, but it is too early to say how things will go. Post operative tests will now have to be carried out.”

He said the singer is recovering in the hospital’s intensive therapy unit, and members of his family have been with him.

Mr Stroud said the opera star, known to millions of fans as ‘the Voice’ was feeling “a little under the weather" following the emergency surgery.

Nervous

He said: “He was clearly very nervous this morning because he was going in for a major operation.”

Mr Stroud said the singer had seen his children before going in to theatre.

The tumour, which has been removed, has been described as a pituitory adenoma - the same type as was removed a year ago.

The hospital said that the singer had been rushed into the Alexandra around 5.00pm yesterday evening, after suddenly becoming incapacitated with multiple symptoms, including a dramatic deterioration of vision while in the recording studio.

After an MRI scan had shown re-growth of a brain tumour and some bleeding, it was recommended he underwent emergency surgery.

In the statement, the hospital said Mr Watson’s management team and everyone at the Alexandra Hospital were focused on supporting the singer and his family at this difficult time, and were grateful to fans for the “warm of their best wishes for his speedy recovery“.

Leave your message of support for Russell below.

Russell Watson gave an interview to the M.E.N in February this year when he spoke about his brain tumour. You can listen to that interview via the links below.