'Manchester has been calling me... I never expected it': Take That star Mark Owen pining for home from sunny Los Angeles

He might have been soaking up the Los Angeles sunshine of late, but Take That's Mark Owen admits he finds himself pining for Manchester. The Oldham-born star has made himself at home since moving across the pond with his family.

But with all the excitement Manchester has to offer and loved ones being close by, Mark still finds himself drawn to the city. “Recently I’ve been back to Manchester a few times and it’s funny because there is something about the place,” he says.

“I don’t know whether if I’m at that point of my life, but I’ve been sort of getting a calling.” He adds with a laugh: “Manchester has been calling me. It’s strange because I never expected it."

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Mark's love for the city grew stronger during Take That's last tour, Odyssey, when the band spent a week in Manchester. "I remember really enjoying it and re-discovering the city in many ways," Mark says. "It’s really nice to go back there.

"My family are still in and around Manchester and my Mum and Dad are there so I get to see them. At some point in my lifetime I’ll think I’ll end up back there.”

There is, of course, one key drawback. He sighs: “It’s just the rain. I’ll have to buy a raincoat or an umbrella, but I’ll be back.”

While it's a famously common occurrence in Manchester, the rare rainfall in LA often leaves people bewildered. “I have this old truck and it leaks and when it rains in LA my seats get watered,” says Mark.

“The winder is broken on my left window and I have to push it up with my hands. It doesn’t rain very often in LA, but when it does, LA does not know what to do.”

Los Angeles has inspired Mark’s forthcoming album Land Of Dreams , which comes out in September to be followed by live dates