The secret life of George Michael

Life facts

Born: 25/06/63
Real name: George Kyriacos Panayioutou
Total record sales: 70 million plus

Fast food
George grows up in north London and is destined to work in his Greek Cypriot father's restaurant

Free drinks
But as a teenager George finds fame with Wham!, living it up with hits like 'Club Tropicana'

Foggy memory
George says he is now a habitual dope-smoker, consuming five or six joints a day

Spot on
George has a small wart on the base of his right nostril and so usually insists on being photographed from the right-side only; he also insists he will never have botox

Chin
George dismissed the plans of Lee from Blue to launch 'Live Aid 2' to protest against the Iraq war as 'not a genuine move'

Goggle-eyed
George talks politics on Tonight With Trevor McDonald and Breakfast with Frost; but is also a big fan of the less cerebral Nip/Tuck, This Morning and EastEnders

Stroking
George complains that the Prime Minister is none too clever, after dining with him and his wife

Beardless
George's first partner, Anselmo Feleppa, died in 1993. He now lives with Texan businessman Kenny Goss

Pants for the memories
As a member of Wham!, George took to stuffing a shuttlecock down his shorts; years of experimentation followed, in the fashion department; now he prefers not to wear underwear at all

Heading off
George says his new album, Patience, will be the last he makes for sale through record shops, preferring instead to share his music with his fans for free via the internet!