Gandolfini surgery stalls in final Sopranos episodes

The final season of TV mob drama The Sopranos has been delayed to allow actor James Gandolfini to recover from knee surgery.

The actor's "unexpected" surgery comes just weeks after he took a tumble from his scooter after colliding with a taxi in New York city. Insiders claim the operation is related to that incident.

The surgery means Gandolfini won't recover in time for the planned debut of the final season in January - so bosses at American network HBO have decided to delay the last episodes for two months.

HBO chairman Chris Albrecht insists the finale will be worth the wait.

"I know the story lines for the final eight (shows)," he said. "I am absolutely, positively certain that when the curtain comes down on The Sopranos, the vast majority of people will say it's one of the greatest things of all time."