We think he was joking, but you never know

In what is either a complete joke or an incredible scoop (we suspect the former), George Michael has told The Guardian that The Smiths are reforming.

The singer, who was formerly a member of Wham! in the 1980s, during which The Smiths were also in operation, took part in a Q&A with The Guardian this weekend. The final question of the Q&A was, "Tell us a secret", to which Michael responded: "The Smiths are reforming." On that bombshell, and with no further elaboration, the interview was over.

The Smiths themselves, who split up back in 1987, have consistently played down rumours of a reunion. In fact, when we asked Johnny Marr about it at the Ivor Novellos a few months back, his response was short but to the point.

Elsewhere in his Guardian Q&A, George Michael revealed that watching Coronation Street is his guiltiest pleasure, and that he wants Paul Newman, who died in 2008, to play him in the film of his life.

It was all very strange.