Elton says sorry to Madonna

Irascible rock star Sir Elton John has admitted he may have been unfair in comments about Madonna's supposed miming on stage.

At a charity fundraiser in Los Angeles he said: "It was probably a bit unfair because there are people who lip- sync worse and whole shows are lip-synced. Her show is not wholly lip-synced.

"Madonna is a great artist, a great performer and a great writer."

He had erupted over her nomination for best live act at a London awards ceremony earlier this month, saying: "F*** off ! Since when has lipsyncing been live?"