Singer George Michael has died aged 53, according to his publicist.

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”.
According to the BBC, Thames Valley Police said South Central Ambulance Service attended a property in Goring in Oxfordshire at 13:42 GMT.

Police say there were no suspicious circumstances.

Michael, who was born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in London from a Greek Cypriot father and English mother*, 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 Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1.

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.”

In 2011, Michael postponed a series of concerts after being taken to hospital for treatment for pneumonia and in 2013 he was involved in a car accident where he fell out of the passenger seat on a busy motorway.

*Updated from an earlier version which wrongly implied that both parents were Cypriot

 

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