Sir Tom Jones' wife Linda dies aged 75 after 'short but fierce cancer battle'

Sir Tom Jones's wife of 59 years, Lady Melinda Rose Woodward, has died aged 75 after a "short but fierce" battle with cancer, his publicist has said.

She died on Sunday, surrounded by her husband and loved ones at the Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles, a statement said.

The statement from Live Nation continued: "Sir Tom and his family have asked for privacy at this difficult time and no further information is currently available."

Earlier this month the veteran singer, also 75, cancelled a gig in Manila due to a "serious illness in his immediate family."

Known as Linda, she has twice battled cancer and developed lung condition emphysema.

In an interview with The Sunday Times magazine last year, the musician revealed his wife has also suffered from depression, saying, "I’ve realised she’s had a depression since she was young. She’s always had a touch of it."

The Welsh singer also told the publication that Linda had "lost her spark" and had let herself go, but added that their marriage was "rock-solid" and said "all the rest was fun and games".

The pair were both the children of coal miners in South Wales and had known each other since they were 12, marrying in 1957 when they were 16. They have one son, Mark, who now works as his father's manager.

In his 2015 autobiography titled Over The Top And Back, Sir Tom revealed they wanted more children, but a miscarriage had left Linda infertile.

During an interview with American TV personality Larry King in 2015, the What's New Pussycat singer addressed criticism about not including anything on his alleged affairs in the autobiography.

He said: "I don't think it's important. It's not what has made me. I've always looked at entertainers as 'why is that person where he or she is?'

"What's the talent?That's the main thing.The rest of it is part of life. It's not what got you there. It's not what is the real person."

He told The Sunday Times of the time his wife once beat him up at their home in Los Angeles after the story of an affair with a Miss World hit the tabloids.

He said: "I stood there and took it. She chinned me. She punched and shouted."