James Blunt has dubbed the late Carrie Fisher as a "special woman".

James Blunt

James Blunt

The 43-year-old singer was close to the late actress - who passed away in December 2016 aged 60 - and has said he's "very sad" his eight-month-old son, whom he shares with his wife Sofia Wellesley, will never get the chance to meet the 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' star.

He said: "I'm very sad my son won't get to know such a special woman. On a personal level, life won't be nearly as much fun without her on it."

And the 'You're Beautiful' hitmaker also revealed his number one hit track was chosen to be played at the star's memorial, which was held over the weekend in a joint ceremony for her and her mother Debbie Reynolds, who passed away just one day after her daughter.

He added to The Sun newspaper: "Her brother asked for music and I thought these songs seemed appropriate. I thought they would play 'Goodbye My Lover', having recorded it in her bathroom, but he went with 'You're Beautiful' instead."

Meanwhile, James previously admitted "life won't be as fun" without Carrie, with whom he struck up an unlikely friendship after ex-girlfriend Dixie Chassay, whose family are long-time friends of the Hollywood star, introduced them.

He said: "She was just the most incredible person. She was a hugely bright person and her brain just jumped between subjects and she was an incredible writer and comedian in her own way. Life will definitely not be as much fun now that she's not around."

Their friendship became stronger when Carrie learnt that James was heading to Los Angeles to record in the US and she kindly invited him to stay with her at her Beverley Hills home.

He recalled: "I met her in Notting Hill and I said, 'I've got a record deal and I'm moving to LA,' and she said, 'Well you're going to need a place to stay,' and she put me up, and has been really, I suppose, my kind-of, godmother in the States, my landlady definitely. She was a very, very special woman and it's an absolute tragedy that she's gone."