Morrissey says he will release a novel

The former Smiths singer Morrissey says his debut novel is almost finished.

Morrissey, who revealed to El Mundohe had been undergoing cancer treatment, also says he plans to release his first novel.

Morrissey said: "It's coming along well, but it would be presumptuous of me to talk about something that is not finalised yet.

"It will probably be published next year and with luck I will be able to stop singing forever, which would make many people happy!"

Morrissey also told the paper he thinks the music of The Smiths is more relevant popular than ever, judging by the number of young people at his gigs.

"I'm at an age when one should no longer be making music," he said.

"Many composers of classical music died at age 34. And I'm still here, and nobody knows what to do with me. The audience that I have is very young, which leads me to think that the songs of the Smiths, as with those of the Ramones, are more significant now than before."