Charlie Sheen has announced he was diagnosed HIV positive four years ago in an emotional TV interview.

The Hollywood actor, who said he initially thought he had a brain tumour, told America’s Today programme: “It’s a hard three letters to absorb."

Sheen, who revealed he had spent 'millions' buying people’s silence, said he does not know how he contracted the virus.

He took part in a sit-down interview with Matt Lauer, at 7am local time in New York (noon in the UK), after Radar Online and National Enquirer yesterday went public with claims he is HIV positive,