Robbie Williams announces new arena tour - with two nights in Manchester and a big reveal

Fresh from a triumphant homecoming gig in Stoke-on-Trent, Robbie Williams has announced a new arena tour to celebrate 25 years as a solo artist. Former Take That star Robbie confirmed the exciting news in the most revealing fashion - with a new image completely in the nude.

The pop superstar made a triumphant return to the live arena with his homecoming show at the football ground of his beloved Port Vale in front of 20,000 fans last weekend. After that show, he revealed just how much he loved his live return.

He posted on social media: "Well that was incredibly special. Can we do it again please?"

Read more : Robbie Williams sings Oasis at huge homecoming concert in Stoke

Later this year he will indeed be doing it again with a string of arena shows across the UK and Ireland, starting on October 9 with two shows at the 02 Arena in London. He will then head up to the AO Arena in Manchester, the city where it all started for Robbie when he joined the boyband Take That here in 1990.

Robbie, 48, will play two shows at the AO Arena in Manchester on Wednesday, October 19 and Friday, October 21. He will then head to two shows in Glasgow before a final night in Dublin to round out the month on October 29.

Tickets for the gigs will go on sale from 9am on Friday, June 17. Although a special pre-sale will also take place for fans who pre-order his new album online from Wednesday, June 15.

Last week Robbie announced his new album XXV will be released on September 9 featuring many of his greatest hits and fan favourites, all re-recorded and newly orchestrated with the Metropole Orkest. The autumn arena tour is billed as "a joyous celebration of Robbie’s 25 years as a solo artist".

And the tour was announced with the eye-popping