Busted star James Bourne has broken his silence in a new interview - nine months after he pulled out of the band's tour due to illness. 

James, 42, was forced to pull out of the Busted vs McFly tour last September, just a day before it kicked off in Birmingham, with his bandmates describing him as 'really f***ing sick'.

Taking to Instagram in his last update in April, the singer revealed he was preparing to have 'major surgery to extend his life' - but insisted 'there is hope'. 

Now he has spoken out in his first interview as he revealed that stepping away from the limelight gave him time to make a brand new album.

On July 1 he will release record Murder At The Gates, which he created for a new musical alongside legendary American playwright Steven Sater.

Speaking about the project he said: 'I didn't want my health to stop me from promoting this project because I've put 13 years of my life into it.'

He added to The Sun: 'There was a fear of not finishing it. But I knew I had to finish it and give this to the people.

'With everything going on with my health, I have been given the gift of time. I was given a lot of time back when I wasn't touring. It was like turning a negative into a positive. It was such a shame to have to drop out from the tour, because I love touring so much.

'But you have to turn negative into positive. They're the conversations I've had with my closest friends. I wanted to take the time I'd been given and deliver this album.'

It comes after earlier this month his Instagram was mysteriously deleted.

The Daily Mail contacted James' representatives for comment at the time. 

Back in April James took to Instagram as he penned: 'I realised it's been about six months since I posted last.

'I have a plan in place to have major surgery that should extend my life and hopefully make me well enough to come back to what I love the most which is touring and making music.

'It really sucks to be out of the game. But there is hope!'

Appearing on Good Morning Britain in the days after James' announcement, the star's bandmate Matt Willis shared an update as he said: 'He's not very well, but he's getting better'. 

Matt explained: 'It happened quite quickly, he got ill just before the tour started, he had to pull out of the tour.

'So we put something out there. But he put something out recently, an update of how he is getting on.

'Yeah, he's not very well, but he's getting better. He's on the mend.'

As Busted appeared on stage for their first show of the tour in September, Matt Willis said: 'Okay, you may have noticed our best friend is not here tonight.

'James Bourne is really f***ing sick and we love him and we miss him.

'This is the first show we've ever played without him and it's really hard. But we're going to do the best we can. Health is wealth.'

James announced in a statement that he had to quit the tour due to health reasons.

He wrote on Instagram: 'The VS tour kicks off tomorrow night in Birmingham and as excited as l've been all year for this tour to begin.

'I'm really sorry to say that over the last 8 days it has become clear that I am not in good enough health to play these shows :-(

'There's a lot of information I still don't have about my condition but my bandmates, management and I are unanimous in deciding that I should focus on the medical stuff for now.

'I really hope I can be in a position to come back further down the line. It's still going to be an amazing show and I will miss being there! See you all as soon as possible.'

Busted and McFly reunited for a head-to-head joint tour throughout September, October and November.