Tom Jones: I want to die singing (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Tom Jones: I want to die singing

1:01pm Thursday 10th May 2012 in Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

Sir Tom Jones has said he'd rather die on stage than retire.

The Voice judge, 71 - who has been singing for more than half a century - told The Star he has no plans to hang up his microphone.

"I hope my life comes to a natural full-stop so maybe it'd be easiest if I fell down dead on stage," he confessed.

"I hate the thought of not being able to sing. I've no idea how I'd fill my time. It'd be terrible if I had to sit around listening to other people's records, thinking 'I can't do that any more'."

Tom, who is busy coaching his BBC One talent show contestants and releases new covers album Spirit In The Room - the follow-up to his 2010 record Praise And Blame - on May 21, said he feels like he's "on a real roll".

He added: "I might make a dance record or work with a hip-hop producer for my next album, you never know, but these two records have felt very real and it'd be nice if they ended up as part of a trilogy."