Eminem has revealed that Elton John calls him once a week to check that he is staying off drugs.

The unlikely pair became friends after performing together at the 2001 Grammy Awards.

Both have suffered from drug addictions, with Elton developing a cocaine problem in the 1980s and Eminem becoming hooked on prescription drugs around 2005.

Eminem, 37, said: “Elton calls me once a week. He’s somebody who is in the business and can identify and relate to the lifestyle and how hectic things can be for artists. He understands the pressure.”

He added: “I reached out to him and told him, ‘Look, I’m going through a problem and I need your advice’.”

In the last decade, Elton and his civil partner David Furnish have become celebrity agony uncles for other stars addicted to drugs.

They are thought to have staged an intervention to help fashion designer Donatella Versace kick drugs, although George Michael refused the couple’s offers of help, telling Elton to “shut his mouth”.