The Salford-born tenor underwent life-saving surgery in October to remove a tumour at the Alexandra Hospital, in Cheadle.

After spending Christmas with his two daughters he returned to Manchester's specialist cancer hospital, The Christie, in Withington, to begin radiotherapy yesterday.

He has been working out to build up his stamina ahead of the gruelling treatment which will last for an hour a day, Monday to Friday, for the next five weeks.

His spokesman said: "It has been a very special Christmas for Russell, he has spent a lot of time with his daughters.

"He has been working out a lot to try to prepare himself for the very gruelling treatment he now faces, he has been warned it will leave him exhausted.

"He just wants to get on with the treatment, get through it and get on with the rest of his life.

"He has been overwhelmed by the support he has received from fans and by the success of his album."

It was the 41-year-old's second tumour in 12 months, surgeons removed a benign tumour `the size of a cricket ball' in September 2006.

Russell received hundreds of messages from well wishers after being admitted to hospital on October 24 after feeling unwell just one day into recording his latest album. He had complained of headaches. His symptoms were passed to a neurologist, who told him to go to hospital immediately.

A growth was found to be pressing on his optic nerve. The singer had already undergone five hours of surgery just over a year ago to remove a three-inch brain tumour, which proved to be benign, and had been recovering well.

It is unclear how the surgery, which was performed through his mouth, will affect his singing voice.

Source: BBC