In a lengthy interview, Elton John has opened up about what it meant to him to watch Rocketman, as the film delved into the darker moments of the icon's life.

The film, which was released last week, follows John's (played by Taron Egerton) remarkable career. It also goes in depth as it explores John's struggles with addiction, mental illness, and his sexuality in his younger years.

Speaking with The Daily Telegraph, John said: “This is how my life was, and I didn’t want to cover it and gloss it over.

“And it’s difficult to watch because I thought, ‘God, I don’t want to go back there. Thank God I came out of it’.”

Elton John had previously praised Taron Egerton’s singing in the film, explaining that Egerton “blew his mind". “What he’s done is quite extraordinary because he sounds like me, but he also sounds like Taron,” he said.

Rocketman is in cinemas now. Roe McDermott reviews the film in the latest issue of Hot Press, which is out now.