After Dinner Speakers: George Michael, Nicholas Witchell, William Freund

The hirsute Greek out of Wham! surprised us all by becoming one of the 80s most talented and successful songwriters. His sensual and sexy music never forgets its soulful roots and isn't afraid to make you move on the dancefloor. Born Georgios (Yorgos) Kyriacos Panayiotou, on the 25 June 1963, in Finchley, London, England. Michael first served his pop apprenticeship in the million-selling duo Wham!, the most commercially successful, teen-orientated band of the 80s. His solo career was foreshadowed in 1984's UK chart-topper "Careless Whisper", a song about a promiscuous two-timer with the oddly attractive line: "Guilty feet have got no rhythm". By the time Wham! split in 1986, Michael was left with the unenviable task of reinventing himself as a solo artist.