George Michael will make his live comeback at the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games in London, months after illness forced him to cancel tour dates at the end of 2011.

The Careless Whisper singer will join The Who, Emeli Sande and Take That for the show-stopping spectacle at Olympic Park on 12 August, according to The Mirror newspaper.

Michael was hospitalised at the end of last year when he was hit with a life-threatening bout of pneumonia. The illness forced him to pull the plug on a string of concerts.

Duran Duran, Snow Patrol, Paolo Nutini and Stereophonics will help launch the Games with a huge show in London's Hyde Park on 27 July. Blur will headline another show in Hyde Park to celebrate the end of the Olympics. (KL/WNTMI/MT)