Russell Watson

Russell Watson was born in June 13, 1967.{{Cite episode|title=Interview for Loose Women|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B24_vQVWQcI|series=Loose Women|series-link=Loose Women|network=itv|date=2007-03-22|season=11|number=49|language=en}} He attended Irlam Endowed Primary School.'Fern Britton Meets' interview. BBC One, broadcast 11 December 2011 He then began work on a Youth Opportunities Programme as a bolt-cutter.{{citation |author=Rosie Waterhouse |title='The Voice' to be sued for half his opera earnings |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1428551/The-Voice-to-be-sued-for-half-his-opera-earnings.html |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=28 April 2003 |location=London}}.According to a February 2007 article in The Times (times2), Watson was a welder: see {{citation |author=Jane Wheatley |title='You have a brain tumour,' the doctor told me. 'Quite a big one' |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article1399498.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221013228/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article1399498.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 February 2007 |newspaper=The Times (times2) |date=19 February 2007 |location=London}}.

Although Watson had been singing since he was a child, he never sought a career as a professional singer. Then married and with a baby, he began to earn extra money singing cover versions of Elvis Presley and other artists in North West clubs to help support his young family.

In 1990 he won a Search for a Star contest organised by Manchester's Piccadilly Radio.

In 1998 Ian Boasman, manager of the Bistro French restaurant in Preston, arranged for him to sing at Old Trafford during the interval at a memorial football match for the Munich air disaster, a huge privilege for a lifelong Manchester United fan. However, his appearance was cancelled at the last minute when player Eric Cantona requested that Mick Hucknall sing instead. Russell signed a management deal with Boasman; this also involved comic Bobby Ball and businessman Keith Chadwick.

In 1999 he sang "God Save the Queen" at the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, then finally sang at Old Trafford before the last match of the Premiership season between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} After the game, when his team had won the league championship, he returned to the pitch to sing the Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé song "Barcelona",{{cite web |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/tv/who-russell-watson-im-celebrity-19302073 |title=Who is Russell Watson on I'm A Celebrity? Late arrival in it to win it as he enters castle |website=Chronicle Live |last=Duke |first=Simon |date=18 November 2020|access-date=26 November 2022}} during which he tore off his dinner jacket to reveal a Manchester United shirt; a week later he was invited to sing a full set at the final of the UEFA Champions League in Barcelona between United and Bayern Munich, duetting with Montserrat Caballé.{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/russellthevoice/status/1048598036383981568?s=20&t=Lb_x8hckJA6jmbYMHYUz3w |title=RIP the legendary Montserrat Caballe, one of the most beautiful and spellbinding voices I have ever heard. I had the honour of performing on the same stage as her at the Nou Camp stadium Barcelona in 1999. Her star will shine eternally |date=6 October 2018|access-date=26 November 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/leisure/sevendays/features/12972211.russell-watson-on-why-performing-makes-him-feel-alive-ahead-of-his-show-at-lighthouse/ |title=Russell Watson on why performing makes him feel "alive" ahead of his show at Lighthouse |website=Dorset Echo |date=31 May 2015|access-date=26 November 2022}}

Watson was now managed by Perry Hughes, who was pivotal in the success of Watson's career during these years. Watson's début album, The Voice, followed in May 2001. A mixture of operatic arias and covers of pop songs, it topped the UK classical chart and eventually reached number five in the UK Albums Chart. When it was released in the United States, it took the number one spot, the first time a British artist had held both the US and UK classical number one. The album contained perhaps Watson's most unusual collaboration to date, with former Happy Mondays singer Shaun Ryder who lent his vocals to the Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé song "Barcelona". It also featured a duet with Faye Tozer of pop group Steps, "Someone Like You", which when released as a single, charted at number 10 on the UK Singles chart.{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/12150/russell-watson-and-faye-tozer/ |title=UK Charts > Russell Watson & Faye Tozer |publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=26 November 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/steps-20-1377900 |title=Faye Takes Next Step |website=NME |date=28 January 2002|access-date=26 November 2022}}

Prior to the formation of Velvet Revolver, Watson was asked by Slash (guitarist of Guns N' Roses) whether he would be their singer. Watson turned down this opportunity to focus on his solo career.{{citation |title=Roses – Slash begged British tenor to be in Velvet Revolver |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/slash%20begged%20british%20tenor%20to%20be%20in%20velvet%20revolver_26_04_2006 |publisher=Contactmusic.com |date=26 April 2006|access-date=7 October 2008}}.

In 2001, Watson sang the opening theme of the television series Star Trek: Enterprise, "Where My Heart Will Take Me",This is the actual name of the song, although it was originally recorded as "Faith of the Heart" by Rod Stewart for the film Patch Adams (1998). See {{citation |title=Status Report: STS-118-02; STS-118 MCC Status Report #02 |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/news/STS-118-02.html |publisher=NASA |date=9 August 2007|access-date=6 June 2008}}; see also {{citation |title=News in brief: Tenor records star track |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/09/11/nbul11.xml#6 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=11 September 2001 |location=London}}. written by Diane Warren. He also sang it live at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002. In 2003, the song was remixed to a more upbeat version. In August 2007, it was played as a wake-up call for American Mission Specialist Richard Mastracchio on Space Shuttle Endeavour mission STS-118.{{citation |title=Status Report: STS-118-02; STS-118 MCC Status Report #02 |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/news/STS-118-02.html |publisher=NASA |date=9 August 2007|access-date=6 June 2008}}; {{citation |title=Russell Watson song 'awakens' shuttle crew |url=http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/91902.html |publisher=United Press International (UPI) (reproduced on The Earth Times) |date=9 August 2007|access-date=6 June 2008}}.

In late 2004, Watson released the single "Nothing Sacred – A Song for Kirsty" to raise £5 million for the Francis House children's hospice in Didsbury, Manchester. The campaign was fronted by Kirsty Howard, a seven-year-old girl with a serious heart defect. The song reached number 17 on the UK Singles Chart.{{citation |title=Single to boost Kirsty appeal |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2393369.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=3 November 2002}}.

The self-styled "People's Tenor",{{citation |author=Jane Wheatley |title='You have a brain tumour,' the doctor told me. 'Quite a big one' |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article1399498.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221013228/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/features/article1399498.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 February 2007 |newspaper=The Times (times2) |date=19 February 2007 |location=London}}. who is also known as "The Voice" after his first album, won the Album of the Year at the Classical BRIT Awards in both 2001{{citation |title=Classical Brits for ex-factory worker |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1363607.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=1 June 2001}}. and 2002,{{citation |title=Salford singer wins again |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2005196.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=23 May 2002}}. also collecting awards for Best-Selling Debut Album (2001) and Best-Selling Album (2002).

In 2005, he collaborated with Secret Garden for his song "Always There" from the album Earthsongs. In November 2005, Watson recorded "True To Your Dreams", his ending theme for the video game Castlevania: Curse of Darkness.

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File:RussellWatson-Broadlands-2007-03.jpg, in Hampshire, England, in 2007.]]

In addition to his recording work, Watson played Parson Nathaniel in the stage adaptation of Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds which toured the UK in early 2006.{{cite web |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/music/russell-watson-goes-to-war-1027342 |title=Russell Watson goes to War |website=Manchester Evening News |date=12 January 2013|access-date=26 November 2022}} In the same year, he also took part in the BBC reality TV show Just the Two of Us. The programme involved eight couples, including Siân Reeves and Watson, competing in a duet-singing showdown, complete with a live band, a panel of judges and viewer voting, to see who would be crowned champions. A wide array of music was performed, from country and western to rock. The scores each week were tallied from both a judging vote (the judges were Lulu, Trevor Nelson, Stewart Copeland and Cece Sammy) and a public phone-in vote. Watson, a late arrival to the competition replacing Reeves's original partner Rick Astley, who had pulled out, took the crown despite the low scores awarded by the judges to their performances. Following the competition Reeves and Watson released a victory single, "Can't Help Falling in Love". Russell Watson was scheduled to defend his title in the 2007 series with a new celebrity partner, Loui Batley, but had to withdraw at the last minute because of serious health problems.

Upon recovering, Watson returned to the recording studio to finish his album That's Life. Originally due out in November 2006, it was subsequently released on 5 March 2007. On the advice of his doctors, his latest UK tour, which had been due to start in late October 2006, was also postponed until March 2007 to coincide with the album release.{{citation |title=Singer Watson postpones UK tour |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6102374.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=31 October 2006}}. The rescheduled tour met with huge approval throughout the country, with night after night of standing ovations to a visibly moved Watson. On 19 May 2007, Watson sang the "God Save the Queen" at the 2007 FA Cup Final.

He released his sixth studio album, Outside In, on 26 November 2007.Release date obtained from [https://www.amazon.co.uk Amazon.co.uk]. Retrieved on 3 June 2008.

On 5 June 2008 Watson released his autobiography Finding My Voice.

Watson appeared as a judge on the talent show Last Choir Standing, which was broadcast on BBC One beginning 5 July 2008.{{citation |title=Russell Watson |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/lastchoirstanding/about/russell_biog.shtml |work=Last Choir Standing, BBC |year=2008|access-date=14 July 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002090920/http://www.bbc.co.uk/lastchoirstanding/about/russell_biog.shtml|archive-date=2 October 2008}}. His album People Get Ready, containing easy listening, rock and soul music standards, was released on 17 November 2008.{{citation |title=People Get Ready |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001G4ZAO0 |publisher=Amazon|access-date=26 December 2008}} He performed at the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special 2008 on 25 December 2008,{{citation |title=Strictly Come Dancing: New vote controversy |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/latestnews/Strictly-Come-Dancing-New-vote.4819594.jp |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=23 December 2008}}; {{citation |title=Programme Information: BBC Network TV Weeks 52/53: BBC One: Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/wk52/bbc_one.shtml#bbcone_strictlycomedancing |publisher=Press Office, BBC|access-date=26 December 2008}}. and at the BBC's New Year Live 2008 programme from {{HMS|Belfast|C35|6}} on the Thames on New Year's Eve.{{citation |author=Gareth McLean |title=Watch this: New Year Live 2008 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/dec/31/watch-this-television |newspaper=The Guardian |date=31 December 2008|access-date=2 January 2009 |location=London}}. In April and May 2009, Watson undertook a 20-date tour of the UK backed by Liverpool's Sense of Sound, who came to his attention after they performed in the BBC's Last Choir Standing.{{citation |title=Audience loves Russell Watson |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/2009/04/24/audience-loves-russell-watson/ |newspaper=Express & Star|access-date=20 July 2009}}; {{citation |author=Donna Neville |title='People's Tenor' Russell Watson gets Audley End picnic concerts off to a winning start |url=http://www.saffronwaldenreporter.co.uk/content/saffron/news/story.aspx?brand=SAFOnline&category=NewsSaffron&tBrand=HertsCambsOnline&tCategory=newslatestSAF&itemid=WEED14%20Jul%202009%2010%3A12%3A23%3A657 |newspaper=Saffron Walden Reporter |date=14 July 2009|access-date=20 July 2009}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. In July 2009, he performed at the opening ceremony of the World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.{{citation |title=British singer Russell Watson to sing at opening Kaohsiung World Games |url=http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=973053&lang=eng_news&cate_img=logo_taiwan&cate_rss=TAIWAN_eng |newspaper=Taiwan News |date=10 June 2009 |access-date=19 July 2009 |archive-date=21 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721182327/http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=973053&lang=eng_news&cate_img=logo_taiwan&cate_rss=TAIWAN_eng |url-status=dead }}.

Watson was one of the principal singers (in the role of Karl-Oskar) in the English world premiere of the Swedish musical Kristina från Duvemåla (Kristina from Duvemåla) by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus at Carnegie Hall in New York on 23 and 24 September 2009.{{citation |author=Dan Bacalzo |title=Helen Sjöholm and Russell Watson to Star in Kristina at Carnegie Hall |url=http://www.theatermania.com/new-york/news/05-2009/helen-sjandoumlholm-and-russell-watson-to-star-in_19310.html |publisher=Theater Mania |date=27 May 2009|access-date=28 May 2009}}. He and his female lead Helen Sjöholm were praised by music critic Stephen Holden as having "first-rate poperetta voices, with Mr. Watson's Puccini-ready tenor the more operatic. Each brings down the house at least once."{{citation |author=Stephen Holden|author-link=Stephen Holden |title=Swedes Coming to America, Grandly |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/26/arts/music/26kristina.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=26 September 2009 |page=C5}}. He reprised the role in the UK premiere of the musical in concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 14 April 2010.

In March/April 2014, Watson went on tour around the UK with his 'Only One Man' tour with the Arts Symphonic Orchestra, Arts Voices and Robert D.C. Emery conducting.

In November 2020, Watson appeared on the twentieth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/im-a-celebrity-2020/russell-watson-age-health-married-b1764221.html |title=Russell Watson on I'm a Celebrity 2020: Who is the new contestant and what is he famous for? |website=Independent |last=Lewis |first=Isobel |date=30 November 2020|access-date=26 November 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.itv.com/imacelebrity/celebrities |title=I'm a Celebrity Lineup Confirmed |date=8 November 2020|access-date=26 November 2022 |website=itv.com |language=en-GB}}{{cite web |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/m-a-celebrity-2020-contestant-russell-watson/ |title=Meet Russell Watson - I'm A Celebrity 2020 contestant and singer |website=Radio Times |last=Morris |first=Lauren |date=30 November 2020|access-date=26 November 2022}} He was eliminated fifth, coming in eighth place overall.{{cite web |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/reality-tv/russell-watson-im-a-celebrity-2020-mishaps-exclusive/ |title=Russell Watson talks about I'm A Celebrity mishaps following elimination |website=Radio Times |last=Henry |first=Grace |date=2 December 2020|access-date=26 November 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/12/02/im-a-celebrity-2020-russell-watson-has-to-take-medication-every-day-or-die-13689625/ |title=I'm A Celebrity 2020: Russell Watson 'has to take medication every day or die' |website=Metro |last=Pearce |first=Tilly |date=2 December 2020|access-date=26 November 2022}}

In November 2021, Watson appeared on ITV1 gameshow The Chase.{{cite web |url=https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/tv/the-chase-celebrity-special-who-are-the-famous-contestants-taking-part-in-episode-four/ |title=The Chase Celebrity Special: Who are the famous contestants taking part in episode four? |website=Entertainment Daily |last=Fear |first=Helen |date=27 November 2021|access-date=26 November 2022}} That same month, it was announced that Watson had joined the cast of a nationwide UK tour of Chicago as Billy Flynn.{{cite web |url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/production-news/russell-watson-joins-chicago-tour-cast |title=Russell Watson joins Chicago tour cast |website=The Stage |last=Snow |first=Georgia |date=19 November 2021|access-date=25 November 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://playbill.com/article/russell-watson-joins-cast-of-chicagos-uk-and-ireland-tour |title=Russell Watson Joins Cast of Chicago's U.K. and Ireland Tour |website=Playbill |last=Gans |first=Andrew |date=19 November 2021|access-date=25 November 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/liverpool-theatre/news/chicago-announces-new-tour-cast-for-2022_55370.html |title=Chicago announces new tour cast for 2022 |website=What's On Stage |last=Wood |first=Alex |date=19 November 2021|access-date=25 November 2022}} The tour began in February 2022 in Liverpool.{{cite web |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/reviews/chicago-liverpool-empire-dazzling-masterpiece-23061429 |title=Chicago at the Liverpool Empire was a dazzling 'masterpiece' that had the audience on its feet |website=Liverpool Echo |last=Barton |first=Phoebe |date=11 February 2022|access-date=25 November 2022}}

On 15 June 2022, Watson performed at Bridgewater Hall, in Manchester, for a charity concert in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust.{{cite web |url=https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2022-06-13/russell-watson-hosts-special-concert-for-the-teenage-cancer-trust |title=Salford singer Russell Watson to stage special concert for the Teenage Cancer Trust |website=ITV News |date=13 June 2022|access-date=25 November 2022}} On 30 August 2022, it was announced that ITV had commissioned a one-off I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! special of The Masked Singer,{{cite web |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a41029027/the-masked-singer-im-a-celebrity-special/ |title=The Masked Singer announces I'm A Celebrity special |work=Digital Spy |author=Stefania Sarrubba |date=30 August 2022|access-date=26 November 2022}} would air on 6 November 2022, ahead of the launch show for the 2022 series.{{Cite web |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/the-masked-singer-im-a-celebrity-special-release-date/ |title=The Masked Singer: I'm a Celebrity special release date - When show airs on ITV |work=Radio Times |author=Katie Rosseinsky |date=27 October 2022|access-date=26 November 2022}} Watson sang "Go the Distance" and was disguised as "Cockroach".{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/russellthevoice/status/1589368514296434690?s=20&t=SFJ8U--s7O4h4WlLgjTI_Q |title=I had such an amazing time on the MaskedSingerUK ImACelebrity special tonight!! It's such a fun and joyous show to be involved in. Thanks to the whole backstage team who are just delightful. Wonderful memories have been made |date=6 November 2022|access-date=26 November 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/masked-singer-cockroach-robbed-114210828.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANimBd1HQ9GBNk9UJLI5gB51uqVgX-TnEuQee-9BVv6blHLKPj59B7ZeB7Ze2NKlxBg9ZhfQRIq9_oY-ctWVSeRYfhdytjggKh6guInKk_tKxysG2xO0DlGAPxZWkYytf0j6FsUcMA6aj757ljsYpKR8LMXIsNb2H00WCkHtCydi |title='Masked Singer' viewers say Cockroach was robbed as singing superstar loses contest |website=Yahoo |last=Archer |first=Katie |date=7 November 2022|access-date=26 November 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/11/06/the-masked-singer-vernon-kay-wins-im-a-celebrity-crossover-17709075/ |title=Vernon Kay triumphs in Masked Singer I'm A Celebrity crossover: 'I've lost more weight in this' |website=Metro |last=Akinwumi |first=Stella |date=6 November 2022|access-date=26 November 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-r88v3z/the-masked-singer/episodes/?episode=b-3dn7vp |title=The Masked Singer: I'm a Celebrity Special |work=Radio Times|access-date=28 October 2022}}

On 11 November 2022, Watson and Aled Jones released the album Christmas with Aled and Russell.{{cite web |url=https://www.greatbritishlife.co.uk/people/celebrity-interviews/23145292.aled-jones-russell-watson-match-made-music-heaven/ |title=Aled Jones and Russell Watson: a match made in music heaven |website=Great British Life |last=Eells |first=Holly Louise |date=23 November 2022|access-date=25 November 2022}} The album debuted at number 1 on the Classical Artists Albums Chart{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/classical-artist-albums-chart/20221118/147/ |title=Official Classical Artist Albums Chart Top 50. 18 November 2022 - 24 November 2022 |website=Official Charts |date=18 November 2022|access-date=25 November 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.classicfm.com/artists/aled-jones/christmas-russell-watson-album-number-one/ |title=Aled Jones' Christmas album with Russell Watson flies to No.1 in classical charts |website=Classic FM |date=19 November 2022|access-date=25 November 2022}} and number 14 on the main albums chart.{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/20221118/7502/ |title=Official Albums Chart Top 100. 18 November 2022 - 24 November 2022 |website=Official Charts |date=18 November 2022|access-date=25 November 2022}} The album was preceded by two singles; the first, "A Spaceman Came Travelling", was released on 21 October 2022.{{cite web |url=https://open.spotify.com/track/0gQl1vpiPfYoErcshGPGg9?si=91e7539469464b02 |title=A Spaceman Came Travelling (single) |website=Spotify |date=21 October 2022|access-date=26 November 2022}} The second single, "O Holy Night", was released on 4 November 2022.{{cite web |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/3dBIgoSbvni8Ha5iaV0Nw0?si=U52pKEQnQfWnUoIf07Upww |title=O Holy Night (single) |website=Spotify |date=4 November 2022|access-date=26 November 2022}} The duo toured the UK in November and December 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/scottish-news/23145523.aled-jones-russell-watson-speak-ahead-glasgow-christmas-show/|title=Aled Jones and Russell Watson speak ahead of Glasgow Christmas show|website=Glasgow Times|last=Mitchell|first=Nicole|date=26 November 2022|access-date=2 December 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/entertainment/4529413/aled-jones-russell-watson-christmas-aberdeen/ |title=Classical powerhouses Aled Jones and Russell Watson to deliver Christmas concert in Aberdeen |website=The Press and Journal |last=Ollerova |first=Danica |date=12 July 2022|access-date=26 November 2022}} On speaking about releasing Christmas with Aled and Russell, Watson said "[Aled]'s synonymous with Christmas [...] whereas all this is new to me – I've never actually released a Christmas album. I've released albums at Christmas but the subject has never been 'Christmas', so I'm really excited about this. And I think it will give people a nice, warm feeling; the melancholy and the memories that Christmas brings back."{{cite web |url=https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/whats-on/aled-jones-and-russell-watson-promise-a-lot-of-melancholy-a-9286198/ |title=Aled Jones and Russell Watson promise 'a lot of melancholy and a lot of memories' at upcoming Cambridge concert |website=Cambridge Independent |last=Peel |first=Adrian |date=28 November 2022|access-date=28 November 2022}} In September 2023, Watson revealed that he had recorded a special medley to be released on his death, with all royalties from the recording to benefit the Worldwide Cancer Research charity. Watson said, "Leaving this track in my will to support the pioneering work for new cancer cures is hopefully a powerful reminder of the legacy we can all leave behind. The compilation was created to remove the taboo around post-life planning and shine a light on how leaving a will "can touch the lives of others'".{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-66840822|title=Russell Watson creates medley in his will for cancer charity|website=BBC|date=18 September 2023|access-date=10 November 2023}}

On 13 September 2024, Watson released the single "Shine", alongside Helen Jane Long.{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1NJQjdsb0nCidvA15r40oA?si=IbL61xO7S5KZtXJAjAZkGQ|title=Russell Watson, Helen Jane Long - Shine|website=Spotify|date=13 September 2024|access-date=19 September 2024}} On 25 November 2024, the pair released the single "You (A Christmas Wish)".{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/1oUNoQENPu8T7SyR77XHYC?si=3BTwbZJARLWSO723mx4WUw|title=You (A Christmas Wish) - Helen Jane Long & Russell Watson|website=Spotify|date=25 November 2024|access-date=1 December 2024}}

Some critics have said that Watson's untrained tenor voice is not up to operatic standards;{{citation |author=Oliver Poole |title=Is this former bolt cutter really the new Pavarotti? |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/03/04/nrus04.xml |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=19 June 2001 |location=London}}; {{citation |title=How to kill classical music |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2001/12/05/bmnorm05.xml |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=5 December 2001 |location=London |first=Charles |last=Moore}}. Rupert Christiansen, music critic of The Daily Telegraph has, for instance, called him a "karaoke crooner".{{citation |author=Rupert Christiansen |title=Karaoke on a grand scale |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2002/04/08/bmruss08.xml |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=8 April 2002 |location=London}}; {{citation |author=Rupert Christiansen |title=Karaoke crooners hijack classical music |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/03/01/btkaraoke01.xml |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=1 March 2006 |location=London}}. Watson has responded that it "[d]oesn't bother me. Seven years ago classical crossover didn't exist – putting Italian lyrics to pop songs in a big ballsy way. Now every bugger's doing it. I've transcended all that bickering and bitching." Watson's career ambition is "[l]ongevity, that's the most important thing. I want to be a musical force for a good long while."

Watson has two daughters from his first marriage to Helen Watson.{{cite web |url=https://www.classicfm.com/artists/russell-watson/russell-watson-wife-wedding-songs/ |title=Who is Russell Watson? Wife, wedding and albums revealed |website=Classic fm |date=7 December 2018|access-date=26 November 2022}} The couple divorced in 2002.{{cite web |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/tv/itv-chase-russell-watsons-beautiful-22833371 |title=ITV The Chase: Russell Watson's beautiful marriage to wife 22 years younger than him |website=MyLondon |last=D'Emillio |first=Isabella |date=2 January 2022|access-date=26 November 2022}}{{citation |title=Profiles: Russell Watson |url=http://www.hellomagazine.com/profiles/russellwatson/ |magazine=Hello!|access-date=23 March 2007}}. The year of Watson's birth is incorrectly stated in the article. In his autobiography, Finding My Voice, Watson wrote "This belief that fame stepped in, swelled my head and made me leave Helen in the lurch isn't true [...] We were a warring couple, arguing about the same things that every other couple does [...] We fought before the split, we fought during the divorce and, just for good measure, we fought afterwards too."{{cite book |last=Watson |first=Russell |year=2009 |title=Finding My Voice (Illustrated version) |publisher=Ebury Press |location=London |isbn=978-0091923310}}

In August 2015 Watson married his girlfriend and fiancée of five years, Louise Harris, in Spain.{{Cite web |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/brides/2015083127016/russell-watson-wedding-exclusive/ |title=Russell Watson's fairytale Spanish wedding |date=31 August 2015 |website=Hellomagazine.com|access-date=27 May 2020}}

In 2005, Watson began having headaches, which he described as "like a knife being pressed into the bridge of my nose." He consulted a specialist, who told him there was nothing to worry about as he was suffering from stress and should find ways of relaxing. When his peripheral vision began to be affected in late 2006, he visited another specialist, who also said he was suffering from stress. Watson told him, "The only thing that's stressing me is this pain in my head."

In September 2006, Watson flew to Los Angeles to record his album That's Life. On the flight, he told his producer that he was experiencing terrible pressure inside his skull. When they landed, his producer suggested a game of tennis to clear his head. Watson could not see the ball at all. After a visit to the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and an MRI scan, he was advised that he had a developing pituitary adenoma, which was the size of two golf balls. According to Watson, "Since an early age I've had an in-built premonition, a vision that I wouldn't make 40. For the previous seven years I'd have a recurring nightmare in which my head exploded. And here I was with a brain tumour on the eve of my 40th birthday; I thought, 'This is it, I was right, I knew it'." Watson recalled that the tumours were "like a figure of eight, one filling the frontal cavity of my skull, the other forced through into the top of my nose." He stayed in Los Angeles for two days and continued recording his album while tests confirmed whether the tumour was malignant or not – it turned out to be benign.

Watson then returned to the UK, and had a five-hour emergency operation to remove the eight-centimetre lump at St George's Hospital in Tooting, South London, in September 2006. As the tumour was pressing against his optic nerve, the surgeon removed the tumour through his nose.{{citation |title=Brain surgery for Russell Watson |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5391544.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=29 September 2006}}; see also {{citation |author=Catriona Davies |title=Tumour put singer in danger of going blind |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/09/30/nrussell30.xml |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=30 September 2006 |location=London}}.

After the operation, Watson could barely walk, and the tumour had affected his pituitary gland which controls hormone levels: "My mood swings went from ecstatic to suicidal. I remember one night standing on the balcony, full of dark thoughts and self-pity, thinking 'God, this is f**king terrible, why me?' I went back to bed, couldn't sleep, got up again. I thought I'd had enough. If it hadn't been for the girls [his daughters]..." His energy levels were very low and he did not leave his house for two months: "I couldn't deal with more than one person at a time or with multitasking and I cried easily." Watson was readmitted to hospital in Manchester for tests on 6 October 2006 after complaining of dizziness, headaches and blurred vision.{{citation |title=Russell Watson back in hospital |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5413194.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=6 October 2006}}. He has been reported as saying, "It [his first pituitary tumour] changed my priorities. Made me appreciate the importance of relationships, of friends and family and, most of all, my two daughters. My fear for them if I died—that was the worst part. I adore them".

While in the middle of the studio recording of his album Outside In on 24 October 2007 Watson suddenly became incapacitated, with multiple symptoms including a dramatic deterioration of vision. An MRI scan showed he had a regrowth of his tumour with bleeding into his brain. He underwent emergency surgery to remove the tumour at the Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle, Greater Manchester, and was for a while in a critical condition in the hospital's Intensive Therapy Unit.{{citation |title=Watson 'critical' after surgery |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7061320.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=25 October 2007}}; {{citation |author=Nigel Reynolds |title=Russell Watson 'critical' after brain surgery |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/25/nwatson325.xml |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=25 October 2007 |location=London}}; {{citation |title=Singer Watson undergoes emergency brain surgery |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk_news/story/0,,2198669,00.html |newspaper=The Guardian |date=25 October 2007 |location=London}}; {{citation |author=Veronica Schmidt |title=Russell Watson in critical condition after brain surgery |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/stage/opera/article2737831.ece |newspaper=The Times |date=25 October 2007 |location=London}}. Watson was discharged from hospital on 31 October. Watson later underwent an extensive rehabilitation programme including radiotherapy at the Christie Hospital in Manchester.{{citation |title=Watson discharged from hospital |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7070144.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=31 October 2007}}.

Once Watson finished radiotherapy in 2008 he decided to embark on a return to music. He soon found that his treatment had given him not just a fresh outlook on the world, but a new, deeper, richer voice. "The tumour could have been growing for 10–15 years in my nasal cavity, so when I had cut it out I went from a V8 to a V12!"{{Cite web |url=http://www.entertainmentafrica.mobi/music/view/artist/5298|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722221255/http://www.entertainmentafrica.mobi/music/view/artist/5298|url-status=dead |title=Entertainment Africa|archive-date=22 July 2011}}

{{Main|Russell Watson discography}}

• The Voice (2000)
• Encore (2001)
• Reprise (2002)
• Amore Musica (2004)
• That's Life (2007)
• Outside In (2007)
• People Get Ready (2008)
• La Voce (2010)
• Anthems – Music to Inspire a Nation (2012)
• Only One Man (2013)
• True Stories (2016)
• In Harmony (2018) – with Aled Jones
• Back in Harmony (2019) – with Aled Jones
• Christmas with Aled and Russell (2022) – with Aled Jones
• Shine (2024) – with Helen Jane Long

• {{cite book |last=Watson |first=Russell |title=Finding My Voice |location=London |publisher=Ebury Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-09-192291-7 |ref=none}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Russell Watson}}

• {{Official website|http://russell-watson.com}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070713184040/http://www.classicalx.com/Russell_Watson.html Russell Watson at ClassicalX (archive)]
• {{IMDb name|0963175|Russell Watson}}
• {{Discogs artist|Russell Watson}}

{{Russell Watson}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Russell}}

Category:1967 births

Category:20th-century English male singers

Category:20th-century English male opera singers

Category:21st-century English male singers

Category:21st-century English opera singers

Category:Decca Records artists

Category:English operatic tenors

Category:Living people

Category:Musicians from Manchester

Category:Opera crossover singers

Category:Musicians from Salford

Category:Singers from Manchester

Category:Singing talent show winners