George Michael has turned to Twitter to quit smoking. The singer told Smooth Radio’s Mark Goodier that he started smoking again after being sent to prison.

He said: “When they put you inside, they almost chuck nicotine at you and, having given up regular cigarettes many years ago, I found within a week I was hooked back on the nicotine.

“What I have found is that now that I’m trying not to smoke cigarettes the tweeting stops me from doing it because I’ve got something to do. Instead of having to have one of those plastic things in your hand that you suck on, I’m just tweeting to stop myself from smoking cigarettes now.”

Mr Michael was released from prison in October after serving half of an eight-week sentence for drug-driving.

He had been arrested three months earlier after being found slumped at the wheel of his Land Rover in Hampstead, north London.

The singer told Mr Goodier he wanted to embark on a world tour and release a live album and a new studio album.