Adele releases Hello: Listen to the first single from singer's third album 25

"I’m sorry it took so long, but you know, life happened”.

(Youtube)

Adele has released her new single, Hello.

The track was first teased during an ad break on the The X Factor last week, but has now been revealed in full.

It is the first single to be taken from the singer’s third album, titled 25, which follows the hugely successful 21 and critically acclaimed 19.

Adele apologised for the delay in releasing new music earlier in the week, posting a screen grab to Twitter where she said 'life happened'.

"Hello" is a sparse, rousing ballad, similar in style to "Someone Like You", which catapulted the singer to the top of the charts after she performed it at the BRIT Awards in 2011.

Discussing the mood of her upcoming album, the singer said 25 would be ‘a make-up record’.

“[I’m] making up for lost time. Making up for everything I ever did and never did.

“25 is about getting to know who I’ve become without realising. And I’m sorry it took so long, but you know, life happened”.

25 will be released on November 20.