Tom Jones faces backlash for homophobic comments after saying he was paranoid about gays

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75-year-old was speaking of his experience when he first arrived in London
Said he was 'thrown off' by the fact his music producer Joe Meek was gay
Considered returning to Wales due to number of homosexuals in capital
Suggested that gay people are not 'normal' - adding 'they are what they are'

By Euan McLelland For MailOnline and Sebastian Shakespeare for the Daily Mail

Published: 07:53 EST, 22 October 2015 | Updated: 07:57 EST, 22 October 2015

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Sir Tom (pictured) admitted he used to be prejudiced towards gay people when he first arrived in London

Sir Tom Jones has been blasted by fans after suggesting that he believes homosexuals are not 'normal'.

The ageing crooner admitted he used to be prejudiced towards gay people when he first arrived in London - and that he was so uncomfortable in their company that he even contemplated returning to Wales.

He also said he struggled to accept his first-ever music producer, the late Joe Meek, because of his sexuality, and became paranoid about his own managers and whether they were gay or not.

In a clumsy interview with The Big Issue, the 75-year-old said: ‘I was ready for most aspects of the music industry but, when I met [him - Joe Meek], that threw me off a bit, because he was a homosexual.

‘I thought: “Wait a minute, is the London scene — the people who run British showbusiness — are there a lot of homosexuals involved here? Because, if so, I’m going back to Cardiff.”'

He added: ‘When I signed with Decca, and Peter Sullivan became my manager . . . I said: “You’re not one of these queer fellows, are you?” and he said: “What are you on about?”

'I became paranoid, you see. I wondered, was that required to make a hit record?’

Sir Tom goes on to express his relief at discovering that most men in the music business were, as he described it, ‘normal’.

Tying himself in knots, he added: ‘Well, I shouldn’t put it like that. Homosexuals are normal, it’s not that they’re not normal. It’s just that they are what they are.’

The comments have been met with widespread condemnation on Twitter, with fans of the singer lambasting his 'wrong' and 'out of touch views'.

Lauren Williams posted on the social network: 'Wow @RealSirTomJones - could you be anymore out of touch?'

Alarmed: Young Tom (left) said that at first he struggled to accept his first producer, the late Joe Meek (right) because of his sexuality

She then added: 'Hire a better PR team to enlighten you on the modern world and the difference between right and wrong.'

Andrew White, Director of Stonewall Cymru, said: 'It's not unusual to meet gay people in show business so we'd have thought that Sir Tom would have learnt how to talk about us by now. Instead he's still painfully tripping over his words.

'Here in Wales we call him Jones the Voice, it would be a real shame if he became Jones the voice of the past.

The comments have been met with widespread condemnation on Twitter, with fans of the singer lambasting his 'wrong' and 'out of touch views'

Lauren Williams posted on the social network: 'Wow @RealSirTomJones - could you be anymore out of touch?' She then added: 'Hire a better PR team to enlighten you on the modern world and the difference between right and wrong'

The furore is the latest to engulf the Delilah singer on his latest promotional tour. Just earlier this month, the former judge on BBC singing contest The Voice had to reject claims he was sexist after saying that his long-suffering wife Linda had ‘lost her spark’ - a blunder picked up on by Twitter user Michael Blair

'We're sure his Mama told him not to say bad things about people and are happy to help next time you're in town Sir Tom.'

The furore is the latest to engulf the Delilah singer on his latest promotional tour.

Just earlier this month, the former judge on BBC singing contest The Voice had to reject claims he was sexist after saying that his long-suffering wife Linda had ‘lost her spark’.

His recent comments are unlikely to go down well with Boy George, the gay singer who has replaced him as a coach on The Voice.