Mick Hucknall apologises to women

Simply Red star Mick Hucknall has issued "a public apology" to the hundreds of women he slept with at the height of his fame.

The singer, who said he had "a very natural empathy with women", made the remarks during a newspaper interview.

He said: "I regret the philandering. In fact, can I issue a public apology? They know who they are and I'm truly sorry."

The flame-haired star admitted a red-headed man "is not generally considered to be a sexual icon", but said that never stopped him.

He said: "Between 1985 and 1987, I would sleep with about three women a day, every day. I never said 'no'.

"This was what I wanted from being a pop star. I was living the dream and my only regret is I hurt some really good girls."

Hucknall's reputation as pop's leading lothario has seen him linked with countless women, including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Helena Christensen and DJ Lisa I'Anson.

The Manchester-born star founded Simply Red in 1984. The band have had a string of hits including Holding Back The Years, which went to number two in 1986.

He recently took the place of Rod Stewart in a series of comeback concerts by 1970s rockers the Faces.