A rep for Channel 4 has denied that the broadcaster tried to bag Morrissey for their alternative Christmas Day speech.

The outspoken singer this week issued a statement to claim that he had no interest in appearing on TV to give a message at the same time as the Queen's speech.

He said: "My view that the monarchy should be quietly dismantled for the good of England is reasonably well-known, but I don't think Christmas Day is quite the time to be trading slaps."

"The Queen should be allowed the impassioned trance of her annual address to the British people, if only to once again prove that, in her frozen posture, she has nothing to offer and nothing to say."

However, a rep for Channel 4 told NME: "We are not aware of any approach having been made to Morrissey to deliver Channel 4’s Alternative Christmas message."

Morrissey has famously been an outspoken critic of the royal family in the past, at one point calling them "benefit scroungers".

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Watch Morrissey in action below: