Sir Tom Jones has told fans he feared his life was “over” after being admitted to hospital in the US with flu.

The 86-year-old from Pontypridd spent a week at the Ronald Regan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles and was forced to cancel or reschedule a number of concerts.

But on Wednesday night, he was back on stage at the Greek Theatre and told the audience just how serious his “bad case of the flu” was.

“[I thought] Oh well, this is it, you’ve had a wonderful life, Tommy, but it’s over right now,” he said.

“I must say this, in the UCLA, they really did a wonderful job. So I’m here.”

“[The medical staff said] What do you want to do now? I was in there for a week. And I said, ‘I’ve got to get back on the stage’. This is where I belong. I can’t live without this, believe me.”

Sir Tom recently made headlines after revealing ITV had “made the decision” to “fire” him from The Voice UK coaching panel, having served as an coach on the singing competition since its debut in 2012.

In the latest series, and his last as a coach, he mentored Welsh singer Cate McHugh to victory.

McHugh previously told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast that being chosen to be on Team Tom at the blind audition was “absolutely undescribable”.

The Delilah and It’s Not Unusual singer has achieved three UK number one singles and four chart-topping albums during a music career spanning more than six decades.

His awards include one Grammy and two Brits, and in 2006 he received a knighthood from the late Queen Elizabeth II for services to music.

He is next due to perform at the Yaamava’ Theater in San Bernadino, California on Friday.