James Newman has detailed his own battle with coronavirus last month, admitting that it left him struggling to breathe.

The 34-year-old had been due to represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam this weekend but the event has been called off due to the spread of the deadly disease.

Newman tested positive for COVID-19 last month, despite having strictly isolated at home, and has revealed that he was more vulnerable than most due to his asthma.

"I think I had medium symptoms," he told Metro. "I started off with my loss of taste and smell and then, I've got asthma, so my chest got tight and I couldn't really breathe.

"That made me realise how easy it was to get it because we were being so sensible. Before that we were isolated because of asthma and I still kind of got it so it just made me think you know, there's a reason why we all have to be in the house."

Watch the video for Newman's Eurovision entry that never was, 'My Last Breath', below: