Elton John confirmed that he was back in touch with his mother after a bitter falling-out ended contact for eight years.

Elton, 68, and his mother Sheila cut off contact after an explosive row in 2008, and it seemed there was no end to the bad blood when she booked an Elton tribute act for her recent 90th birthday.

Elton John
Elton and his mother in happier times in 2002 (Andy Butterton/PA)

But he told the Mirror the party was actually a turning point.

He said: “Out of respect for my mother’s privacy, I have always shied away from speaking publicly about our relationship.

“However, I can say that we are now back in touch and have been so since my mother’s 90th birthday.

“I won’t be commenting further on this.”

Elton John
Elton performed a song from his new album Wonderful Crazy Night on the Graham Norton show (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)

Elton was reported to have paid for his mother to have a double hip replacement earlier this year at a private hospital.

The singer has been more open about his personal life recently and spoke on the Graham Norton show on Friday about doing the school run, going to Pizza Hut and visiting Waterstones to buy books with sons Zachary and Elijah.

Elton, who is married to David Furnish, said their lives were “all very normal”.