Things you should know about George Michael

2010 wasn't the greatest of years for singing sensation George Michael after he was charged with driving under the influence of drink and drugs and was subsequently sentenced to eight weeks in prison. However, despite this and many other controversies George has been caught up in over the years, he remains one of the most legendary singing icons in British pop history. Millions of fans will be excited about the upcoming re-mastered release of his notorious album Faith and for those fans we have ten fast facts about George.

1. George was born on the 25th June 1963 to his English mother and Greek father who chose to name him Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou. He grew up in North London and moved to Radlett in his teens, where he attended school with Andrew Ridgeley.

2. As a teenager, George worked in a movie theatre where he wrote many of the songs that would later go on to become pop staples.

3. George's first claim to fame in the music world was in the '80s pop duo Wham! alongside school friend Ridgeley. The band achieved numerous number one albums and singles, as well as sell-out tours but officially split in 1986 due to Michael's increasing solo fame. The pair released a farewell single entitled 'The Edge of Heaven' and produced yet another sell-out arena tour, leaving many broken teenage hearts.

4. His solo career skyrocketed and George won numerous awards including three Brits, two Grammys, four Ivor Novellos and a handful of MTV VMAs.

5. George is openly gay but has admitted to withholding his sexuality for some time during his youth over fears of upsetting his mother. He has been with his partner, Kenny Goss, since 1996 and the couple registered their relationship as a civil partnership in 2005. There have been several rumours of a split, but Goss was present at Michael's drug-driving sentencing last year.

6. Despite being involved in a number of sex scandals, George insists that this never affected his relationship with Goss. "I've got no issue with cruising, I've talked about it many times," he said. "It's never been an issue between us."

7. In 2005, a documentary was made about George's personal and professional life. It was called A Different Story and starred many of the singer's showbiz friends. Elton John, Mariah Carey, Sting and Simon Cowell all featured.

8. George is extremely involved in politics and campaigns for world peace. In 2007, he sent John Lennon’s $1.45 million piano, which he owns, around the world on a 'Peace Tour'.

9. As well as politics, George is a passionate charity worker. He sang as part of Band Aid in 1984 and subsequently donated all the royalties from his popular festive anthem 'Last Christmas' to Band Aid. He starred alongside Ronan Keating in a 2003 celebrity edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and won £32,000, and also donated all proceedings made from his hit single 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me' to ten different charities, including one for AIDS and education.

10. Despite all his charitable giving, George still tops multiple Rich Lists and it's not surprising: in 2006, a Russian billionaire is rumoured to have paid him over $3 million to perform a New Year's Eve concert to 300 guests.

Reporting by Emma Humphrey

I didn't understand my relationship with MJ, says ex-wife Lisa Marie

Michael Jackson's ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley confessed on The Oprah Winfrey show that she failed to understand her relationship with the King of Pop.

"I didn''t understand my relationship with him," UsMagazine.com quoted her as saying.

Though skeptics have labeled their 18-month marriage a sham, Presley, 42, insisted it was the real deal -- though she understands why Jackson''s behavior might cause people to question its validity.

"To some degree, he was a master at manipulating the media," she said.

"I understand that nobody really knew who I was. They just assumed I was going along with something he would be doing....I understand it better now. The manipulation was a survival tactic for him," she added.

You'll get sick of me now

George Michael has said that he is delighted to be freed from prison.
The singer, who was released yesterday after serving half of an eight-week sentence for driving under the influence of drugs, joked that people would "get sick" of seeing him out and about.

The 47-year-old gave an impromptu speech to reporters and photographers outside his house in Highgate, North London just hours after his spell behind bars came to an end.

Michael confirmed that his minders had left the house and insisted that he was "fine", adding: "I just want to say thank you to everybody who supported me in there - it's quite inspirational. Fantastic, what a beautiful day!"

He also told the waiting press: "I'm going to stop trying to run away from you guys. You'll get sick of me, you'll probably see me around. So you [can] all take a few pictures.

"I'm coming out here on my own so that you realise I just want to start again. Do you know what I mean? I want to be out. I want to go out!"

Michael also told cameramen not to film him while he entered the code to his front gate, joking: "I'll have to change it now!"

George Michael 'protected by fellow inmate'

George Michael is reportedly being protected in prison by a fellow inmate.

According to the Sunday Mirror, Robert Bleach took the singer under his wing and has warned the other prisoners not to attack him.

Michael is said to be considering hiring Bleach as his personal bodyguard once he is released.

A source said: "When Michael landed here from Pentonville he was terrified. He was shuffling around, scared to look anyone in the eye. All the other inmates knew who he was and a few of them started to give him stick. But luckily for him he was put on Bleach’s wing.

"Robbie's obviously got a past and he's one of the hardest men you're going to meet but he's got a real sense of honour and pathologically hates bullies. He took a liking to Michael instantly and told him that if anyone messed with him then he could use his name to get them to back off.

"Word soon got round that they had an understanding and now no-one would dare mess with Michael. He walks round with his head held high and isn’t scared of anyone. They’ve hit it off so well that George has talked to him about coming to work for him on the outside."

The star is currently serving an eight-week sentence after crashing his car while under the influence of cannabis.

George Michael branded 'The Hermit' by jail inmates

Imprisoned singer George Michael has apparently been branded 'The Hermit' by his fellow inmates, because he doesn't talk to anyone and watches TV all day, according to reports.

The former Wham! star, who has served two out of the eight weeks sentence, was found in possession of cannabis and drug- driving following a car crash in north London in July.

"Everyone calls him 'The Hermit' because he could mix but he has chosen not to... I just think he wants to be alone," the Daily Express quoted a source as saying.

But the sources insist that the star isn't interested in making friends during his stint.

Michael was transferred from London's tough Pentonville prison to the Highpoint jail in Suffolk where he will serve out the rest of his sentence.

George Michael is 'a hermit' in prison

George Michael has reportedly been spending time alone since entering prison, instead of mingling with other inmates.          
According to the Sunday Mirror, Michael has told prison officers that he does not want to make friends.

A source said: "Everyone calls him The Hermit, because he could mix but has chosen not to. He always watches the Jeremy Kyle Show - he's a big fan."

Michael was transferred to Highpoint Prison, Suffolk to serve the remainder of his eight-week sentence for driving under the influence of drugs.

The insider said that the popstar has refused to use the gym, rarely goes for walks and only enters the communal areas to use the telephone, adding: "I think he just wants to be alone."

George Michael 'moving to open prison'

George Michael will reportedly be transferred to an open prison next week for the remainder of his jail term.

The former Wham! frontman was jailed this week after admitting causing an accident while driving under the influence of cannabis.

Michael was handed an eight-week prison sentence on Tuesday, and was taken to Pentonville Prison in North London.

PA reports that the 47-year-old will now be downgraded from a category C prisoner to a category D prisoner and moved to a less secure facility.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "Prisoners are regularly transferred within the prison estate according to their needs and individual circumstances."

Earlier today, a bail application made in Michael's name was withdrawn.

George Michael jailed for eight weeks

George Michael has been jailed for eight weeks for crashing his car while under the influence of cannabis.

The 'Freedom' singer was arrested in July after smashing his Range Rover into a shop in Hampstead, north London.

Michael will serve four weeks in prison, BBC News reports. The rest of his eight-week sentence will be spent under the supervision of the probation service.

He was also banned from driving for five years and given a £1,250 fine at the hearing at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court in London.

Last month, Michael, 47, pleaded guilty at the same court to possessing marijuana and driving under the influence of drugs and was given a six-month interim driving ban.

Michael claimed to have checked himself into a rehabilitation clinic after the incident and admitted that his "pride" has prevented him from seeking help earlier.