Michael single free online at Xmas

3:32pm Sunday 30th November 2008

George Michael's fans are set for a festive gift this year - they can download his new single for free on Christmas Day.

December Song (I Dreamed of Christmas) will get its first air play on Monday.

The tune will be available free as a download on December 25 via the website www.georgemichael.com and some other online music outlets, his spokeswoman said.

It is the first Christmas song to be released by the singer since the 1984 classic Wham! hit Last Christmas, she said.

The record became a global festive favourite, accompanied by the video shot in the snowy landscapes of Switzerland.

The new release was originally promised by the singer on stage during the last night of his Final Two sell-out concerts at London's Earls Court, billed as his "last arena shows in the UK", in August.

It was written and produced by the singer and co-written with his friend David Austin.

The singer has sold more than 100 million records worldwide.