The Wanted star Max George to have urgent heart surgery

Singer Max George has said he is to have urgent surgery on his heart after being diagnosed with a block.

The Wanted star first revealed he was having problems last week, but has now updated fans to say he has been diagnosed with a "2:1 block" and needs an operation "way quicker than the doctors first thought".

Heart block is a condition where the heart beats more slowly or with an abnormal rhythm, according to the NHS, and is caused by a problem with the electrical pulses controlling the heartbeat.

George had a scan on Monday, after being admitted to hospital five days earlier, and said on Instagram that his heart rate had not picked up.

"Because of this, we don't have too much time to wait so it looks like I'm going to be in surgery way quicker than the doctors first thought," the 36-year-old said. "I may even be home for Christmas!

"Still a pretty scary time right now and the last few nights have been really rough, but I wanted to say that I'm absolutely humbled by all your messages of support. Both people I know and those I don't.

"It's given me a much needed boost and my family have been overwhelmed with support, which means more to me than anything."

George shared photos of himself in hospital and said having a full CT scan on his heart would not be "something I'd choose to do again!"

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The singer rose to fame with boyband The Wanted, with hits including All Time Low, Glad You Came and Chasing The Sun in the early 2010s.

He also competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020, where he met his now girlfriend, former EastEnders star Maisie Smith, and appeared in the US musical series Glee and on stage in The Syndicate.

The star's bandmate Tom Parker died in 2022, at the age of 33, after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour 18 months earlier.

Before his death, the group had reunited to raise awareness and funds for brain cancer research.

George's health problems come just weeks after he announced The Wanted 2.0 with fellow bandmate, Siva Kaneswaran.

The pair had revealed they would reunite once again as a duo and had confirmed three live shows for 2025.

(c) Sky News 2024: The Wanted star Max George to have urgent heart surgery