A terrible year for the entertainment world was capped off in late December when George Michael died.

Since his death - and given his struggle with addiction over the years - there was speculation in some corners that the 53-year-old may have died from something drugs-related.

However, those rumours have been emphatically proven as untrue as the cororner's report, released today, ruled that he died of natural causes.

"Inquires into the death of George Michael have been concluded and the final postmortem report received," said Darren Salter, senior coroner in Oxfordshire. "As there is a confirmed natural cause of death, being dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver, the investigation is being discontinued and there is no need for an inquest or any further inquiries.

“No further updates will be provided and the family requests the media and public respect their privacy.”

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition that hampers the heart's ability to pump blood to its full capacity; myocarditis is an inflammation of the myocardium, the middle layer of the heart wall and fatty liver is the presence of too much fat in the liver, which basically prevents the organ from doing its proper job.

More on this story as it develops.