Michael Announces Christmas Comeback

Pop star GEORGE MICHAEL has announced he will release a new single at Christmas (08) - despite staging a series of "retirement" shows.

The singer performed at London's Earl Court on Sunday (24Aug08) and will appear again on Monday (25Aug08) in what has been dubbed The Final Two - fuelling speculation he is to quit touring.

But the singer announced he plans to release two new songs this year (08) at Sunday's (24Aug08) sell-out show.

After singing a version of Feeling Good, Michael told fans the song had not yet been released - but that they would be able to download it for free from Christmas Day (25Dec08).

He revealed it would be released "along with a new Christmas song that I wrote", without revealing any further details.

Michael's last single release in the U.K. was This is Not Real Love, from 2006's greatest hits LP Twenty Five.