Sir Tom Jones returns to stage after hospital stay, saying he feared he was dying

Sir Tom Jones has returned to the stage after a week in hospital with flu, telling concertgoers he feared he was dying and describing his recovery as the work of staff at a Los Angeles hospital.

The 86-year-old Welsh singer spent a week at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and cancelled or rescheduled several shows. On Wednesday night, he performed at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and told the audience: “Oh well, this is it, you’ve had a wonderful life, Tommy, but it’s over right now.”

He said the hospital staff “really did a wonderful job” and that, when asked what he wanted to do next, he replied: “I’ve got to get back on the stage. This is where I belong. I can’t live without this, believe me.”

Jones is next due to perform at the Yaamava’ Theater in San Bernardino, California, on Friday. His career has spanned more than six decades, with three UK number-one singles and four chart-topping albums, according to the BBC.