Cancer battle

Sir Elton John pleads with God during secret cancer battle

In his memoir, serialised in the Daily Mail, the 'Rocketman' hit-maker describes how his prostate cancer operation caused an infection, leaving him "24 hours from death".

He prayed in hospital: "Please don't let me die - please let me see my kids again".

"I lay awake all night, wondering if I was going to die," he writes.

Sir Elton was cured of the illness following successful surgery, and is currently back on tour. He'll play four shows in New Zealand in February.