George Michael is releasing a film about his career as a "Christmas present" to his fans, he says.

The pop star says it is not a promotional stunt but an explanation to people of why his work has been so "stop, start." He said: "If someone has paid seven or eight pounds to see a film about me I can be fairly sure I am talking to fans."

George Michael: A Different Story documents his career from the Wham! days in the 1980s to his 1998 arrest for lewd conduct. It features interviews with former band-mate Andrew Ridgeley and his boyfriend of ten years.

"I am so thrilled he agreed to take part. He is all over the movie. He is such a big part of my life," explained Michael. "I think Andrew changed my life very, very positively."

He said a Wham! reunion was not planned, nor did he intend to go into acting, commenting: "I do not have any intention to go off and do something different."

Meanwhile, on Shayne Ward's performance of his song Careless Whisper on the X Factor last week, he said: "It's a very, very hard song to sing but I thought he sang it well."